Debate on 20th Amendment in SL Parliament next week

Colombo, Oct 12 (IANS) A debate on the 20th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution will take place in Parliament on October 20, it was reported on Monday.The consideration of petitions against the 20th Amendment by the Supreme Court was completed and the relevant decision has been referred to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, reports the Colombo Page newspaper.Accordingly, after the presentation of the decision of the Supreme Court on the 20th Amendment by Speaker Abeywardena, the relevant debate will be held during the parliamentary week beginning on the October 20.The Parliamentary Committee has decided to continue the sittings in spite of the ongoing Covis-19 pandemic.However, if the Speaker announces the decision regarding the 20th Amendment, the Committee on Parliamentary Affairs will convene again and change the agenda of the sittings which are currently scheduled to be debated.The 20th Amendment to the Constitution was tabled in Parliament by the government in September.It would replace the 19th Amendment introduced in 2015 that curtailed the powers of the President and strengthened the role of Parliament.Out of the 21, two petitions have been filed by National Election Commission member Ratnajeevan Hoole and United National Party Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene, the Daily Mirror reported.Altogether, 39 petitions have been filed against the 20th Amendment so far.
--IANS ksk/