'Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor' does not indicate abolishing 19A laws; Wijeyadasa

by Staff Writer 05-10-2020 | 4:35 PM

Colombo (News 1st); In a letter to the President, parliamentarian Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has pointed out the policy titled "Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour" does not indicate the laws introduced under the 19th amendment will be abolished.

The parliamentarian had expressed these remarks in a letter sent to the President conveying his stance on the 20th amendment.

Dr. Wijayadasa Rajapakshe had pointed out the government could be degraded and the hopes of party supporters may deteriorate due to the amendment that has been put forward by stirring up controversy in the country.

He insisted that exempting state institutions from a state audit and removing them from the purview of the parliament while vesting the legislature with exclusive powers on state finance goes against the people's sovereignty as established in Sections 3 and 4 of the constitution.

Rajapakshe stressed that there are justifiable grounds behind the argument stating that a referendum is required to pass the amendment.

He stated that there is a serious issue on whether parliamentarians who respect the people's sovereignty can vote in favor of the 20th amendment while being true to their conscience.

The parliamentarian said that this would also violate the promise made by parliamentarians to abide by the constitution and to protect it.

Rajapakshe said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa knows that he would not have been able to become president or a presidential candidate if the 19th amendment had not been passed.