19th constitutional amendment gazetted

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 September 2002, 05:22 GMT]
The United National Front government Wednesday midnight gazetted its nineteenth constitutional amendment, restricting the powers of the Executive President in dissolving parliament after the completion of one year of its existence. The gazette notification was issued after Cabinet approved the draft bill of the 19th amendment last night, ruling party sources said.

President Chandrika Kumaratunge did not attend the Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, the sources confirmed. The draft nineteenth constitutional amendment is to be tabled in Parliament Monday.

Meanwhile the Constitutional Affairs Minister Professor G.L.Peiris expressed optimism that the controversial amendment will be passed in parliament with the required majority.

According to the present constitution, two third majority is needed to pass this amendment in parliament. Peoples Alliance parliamentarians Messrs Richard Pathirana, A.H.M.Fowzie and Ronnie de Mel are openly supporting the 19th amendment. Mr. Richard Pathirana has assured the government his fullest support openly and said about twenty PA parliamentarians would vote for the amendment.