Opposition parties reject 21A; alleges draft bill further strengthens Presidential powers

Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa raised concerns about the proposed 21st Amendment submitted by Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe this week, saying it further strengthens Presidential powers.

Opposition leader wrote to Justice Minister Rajapakshe yesterday noting that the draft bill forwarded by him is contrary to the promises given by President."Your draft enables the President to hold ministerial portfolios which was not envisaged under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution,"

"Our considered observation is that instead of moving in the direction of reducing the executive powers of the President, your draft bill does the opposite by strengthening the President's executive powers contrary to 19th Amendment," Opposition Leader noted in his letter. 

He also pointed out that President gave a commitment that the 20th Amendment would be repealed and 19th Amendment to the Constitution would be restored and steps would be taken toward the abolition of the executive presidency while addressing the Nation on May 11. 

Other political parties such as Tamil National Alliance (TNA), and Peoples'Liberation Front (JVP) rejected the 21st Amendment in its current form and demanded that the previous 19th Amendment should be restored.

Meanwhile, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) also rejected the draft bill on similar lines while alleging that the government of further strengthened Presidential powers contrary to what President said in his address to the Nation early this month.