Sarath Weerasekera’s only second reading ‘no’ vote, abstains on third reading

The Second Reading of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was passed in Parliament on Friday with the required two thirds majority with the Bill receiving 179 votes in favour and one vote – that of Colombo District MP Rear Admiral (Retd.) Sarath Weerasekera – against. The Third Reading was passed with 174 votes for and none against with Weerasekera abstaining. The vote was originally due to be taken at 5.30 pm on Friday but got delayed till 6.15 pm as the debate dragged on. The Bill was debated on Thursday and Friday and over 50 MPs spoke.

Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe presented the Bill entitled ‘Twenty Second Amendment to the Constitution’ to amend the Constitution” on Aug 10. The Supreme Court cleared the Bill on Sept. 6 ruling that it could be adopted with a two-thirds majority in Parliament with some clauses requiring a nationwide referendum. Announcing the court decision the same day, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene said the Bill could be adopted with a twothirds majority in Parliamentand a nationwide referendum on clauses two and three that are inconsistent with the Constitution.

The Supreme Court recommended changes to help Parliament pass the bill with only a special majority and no referendum. The bill aims to restore the independent commissions and also curbs some of the powers of the president.Interested parties were given time to petition the Supreme Court. There were 10 such petitions filed.

Speaking on Friday, Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said that the youth and protesters who rose as the ‘Aragalaya’ deserve the credit and recognition for pushing through the 22nd Amendment. His party’s stance was not about the contents of the 20th or 22nd Amendments, but they believed their own 21st amendment was the most suitable.He said that the SJB would support the 22nd amendment, not because it offered a solution to the current crisis but because it was an improvement from the 20th amendment.

“Even though the 22A is not a solution at present, it is better than the 20A,” he said. He blamed the misuse of executive powers and the egoism derived from a two thirds parliamentary majority following a 6.9 million vote mandate at the Nov. 2019 presidential election for the downfall of the country.