Dr. Harsha De Silva speaks in Parliament

Colombo (News 1st): SJB MP Doctor Harsha De Silva says according to the 19th Amendment, Parliament cannot be dissolved until it fulfils 4 and a half years. Doctor De Silva expressed these views at the Parliamentary debate on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution earlier today. Adding further the MP said, what they have gathered is that time has been reduced to 2 and a half year through the 20th Amendment. De Silva said only if the President dissolves Parliament will there be an opportunity for the Parliament to be dissolved after two and a half years. "This does not include the promises made to the Supreme Court. The mandate given was that the President cannot dissolve Parliament unless it has functioned for 4 and a half years. You have reduced it to one year. The Supreme Court ordered it to be increase to two and a half years. What this state is completely contrary to it. What this says is, unless the President dissolves Parliament after losing the appropriation bill twice, Parliament cannot be dissolved until two and a half years lapse. What does that mean?" said MP Harsha De Silva. Speaking further in Parliament, MP Harsha De Silva said that he does not think that a single person in Parliament will raise their hand in favour of this. Concluding, the Former Minister said that the Opposing factions against the 20th Amendment do not want to get into acrimonious debate. Instead, it is better to discuss this and solve it diplomatically.