Opposition leader MP Sajith Premadasa has responded to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s accusation pertaining to the delay in presenting the 21st Amendment to the Constitution in Parliament.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said the Cabinet has approved the 21st Amendment and the final draft will be presented to Parliament.
He further said that unfortunately the process will be delayed due to the boycott of Parliament by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the National People’s Power (NPP).
Responding to the Prime Minister, SJB and opposition leader MP Sajith Premadasa said the 21st Amendment referred to by the Prime Minister comes into effect after the 9th Parliament.
He explained that this means the current President’s power is not curtailed in any way and is of no consequence to the current situation, adding that the SJB is not causing any delay.
“Also for an entire year of the Rajapaksa’s rule you did not assume office, which means you never tried curtailing the Rajapaksa’s centralized powers in the past,” the opposition leader pointed out.
MP Sajith Premadasa further added that therefore there is no faith that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe will do so going forward.