Constitutional amendment in parliament on September 19

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 September 2002, 20:46 GMT]
The United National Front government Friday said it would table the nineteenth constitutional amendment bill in parliament on September 19. "The debate on the bill which was gazetted last Wednesday midnight will take place in parliament during the second week of October," Constitutional Affairs Minister Professor G.L.Peiris said Friday at a press briefing.

The views expressed by President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge and other opposition leaders who promised to support the nineteenth amendment have been included in the draft bill. The aim of the bill is to restrict presidential powers to dissolve parliament after one year of its existence without parliamentary approval, said Minister Mr.Peiris.

The Constitutional Affairs Minister expressed confidence that the nineteenth amendment to the constitution will be passed with the required majority.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, a former minister and the current chief whip of the main opposition People's Alliance said at a press conference Friday said that not a single parliamentarian from the PA would support the nineteenth amendment. The opposition will take every effort to see the draft bill is defeated in parliament without required majority.