The proposals for the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, brought forth to clip the powers in the presidency, have been published in a gazette notification issued on Wednesday (June 29).
Earlier this week, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal to gazette the new constitutional amendment and to present it to the Parliament.
The amendment, which had been referred to as the 21st Amendment so far, is in fact the 22nd Amendment, as another draft 21st Amendment has already been gazetted.
Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was given on June 20 for the preliminary draft for the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution and the 22nd constitutional amendment bill was prepared by the legal Draftsman accordingly.
The 22nd Amendment was initially tabled in the Cabinet on June 06 by Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and the discussion on it had been adjourned on multiple occasions due to failure to reach a consensus.
The Constitutional Amendment is expected to empower Parliament over the executive President and annul the 20A to the Constitution, which had given unfettered powers to President after abolishing the 19th Amendment.
Under the 22A, the President, the Cabinet of Ministers and the National Council will be held accountable to the Parliament. Fifteen Committees and Oversight Committees are also accountable to Parliament.
Courtesy: Adaderana
