SLFP mounts 11th-hour blockade against 19A

• President appoints 3 MPs supporting amendment to thrash out issues with SLFP reps
• SLFP insists on Constitutional Council comprising majority MPs
• SLFP wants provision on President acting on advice of Prime Minister to be removed
• Talks end in deadlock; President to intervene
• SLFP insists they are not trying to derail constitutional reform
• Both amendments being mooted completely dilutes 19A, says President’s team
• What the SLFP is asking for completely negates whole of the 19th Amendment: Sumanthiran

By Dharisha Bastians-April 28, 2015
An eleventh-hour bid to get consensus on the 19th Amendment ended in deadlock last night, with the SLFP demanding changes to two major provisions of the draft legislation that Presidential advocates say would completely negate the purpose of the reforms – to curb the powers of the presidency and depoliticise key State institutions.
Negotiations came down to the wire last night, but ended in a stalemate, although the SLFP insisted they were not trying to derail the constitutional reforms, the Daily FT learns.

SLFP Mounts 11th-Hour Blockade Against 19A by Thavam Ratna