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19 th amendment , tomorrow not today ; dissolution too after political reforms are passed - President vacillating every now and then

(Lanka-e-News -20.April.2015, 11.00PM) It was decided that the 19th amendment to the constitution without being tabled in parliament today (21) , shall be taken for debate on the  21 st and 22 nd of April , This morning a party leaders’ meeting was held when it was finally  decided that no amendments be added to the proposals gazetted with the approval of the supreme court (SC).

The SLFP group that met yesterday which is to ensure the 2 /3 rd majority to pass  the constitutional  amendment had  endorsed  the same view. Accordingly , the president shall be the head of the government and the commanding chief of the forces. The amendments to withdraw  the powers of the president as head of the government ; and decisions shall be taken by the president  only after  consulting  with the prime minister are not being put forward. It is reported  this decision was arrived at following a  discussion among Ranil , Chandrika and Maithripala . However , the promise made to the people by the president Maithripala Sirisena during the last presidential elections that the executive powers of the president will be completely transferred to the parliament and the independent commissions had not materialized by these proposals. These decisions were taken by Maithripala Sirisena himself , the president of the SLFP .

If Maithripala Sirisena does not act according to his pre election promise to transfer the executive powers totally to the parliament by constitutional amendment , it will not be possible for him to halt the people from making  an amendment to their own earlier good opinion of him .

In any case Ranil Wickremesinghe had decided to table the 19 th amendment gazetted which was approved by the SC in parliament , even without the desired changes to it that have been stifled  and get it passed as swiftly as possible.  

The SLFP  parliamentary group has also decided that the parliament should be dissolved after the 20 th amendment is also passed in parliament concerning the electoral reforms.

However , some days ago ,the president himself announced in Polonnaruwa that the parliament will be dissolved immediately after  the 19 th amendment which  transfers executive powers to the parliament is passed.

Apparently ,  the political aim and objective is , for both parties to to acquire  a victory status at the parliamentary elections ,with UNP trying to clinch  the advantage by getting the   19 th amendment passed , while the SLFP is trying to secure the advantage   by getting the 20 th amendment passed.

In any event the Elections Commissioner made it abundantly clear that for  the public to get acquainted with   the new political reforms , a period of a year will be necessary, while adding that even his officers cannot be  educated on the  new reforms quickly

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by     (2015-04-20 23:05:36)

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