By Shamindra Ferdinando

Co-cabinet spokesman Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila yesterday (10) assured that concerns raised by the National Joint Committee (NJC), Federation of National Organizations, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Burma Prof. Nalin de Silva et al would definitely be looked into.

The assurance was given in response to The Island query at the post-cabinet media briefing at the Information Department presided by cabinet spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

Minister Gammanpila, who is also the leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) acknowledged that the 20th Amendment wasn’t perfect.

Asked whether the government accepted the need to rectify issues/shortcomings pointed out by Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera, on behalf of the FNO, Minister Gammanpila said representations could be made. The minister explained the procedures the government expected to follow.

There were shortcomings, the minister admitted again. References were made to stand taken by Manohara de Silva, PC, a member of the expert committee headed by Romesh de Silva to formulate a new Constitution.

The Island asked why changes couldn’t be made through consultations among all stakeholders before the Committee Stage. The Island sought an explanation why the 20th Amendment did away with Article 53 of the Constitution meant to ensure members of Parliament did not promote or support a separate State (7th Schedule introduced by the Sixth Amendment)

The FNO asked the SLPP government to establish a mechanism to (1) accept public proposals as regards a new Constitution (11) suspend Provincial Council polls until the enactment of the new Constitution and (111) far reaching alterations to the proposed 20th Amendment approved by the Attorney General before the Government Printer issued the relevant gazette.

The Federation called for what it called rectification of technical and wrongful policy decisions, in addition to members of the cabinet given an opportunity to provide comments, in writing. Having rectified mistakes, the government would have to amend the 20th Amendment and re-gazette it.

The civil society group said that it would be a mistake to bring in amendments at the committee stage as it could create a situation similar to that of the passage of the 19th Amendment.

They also requested the following provisions altered (1) do away with the proposal in the 20th Amendment to reduce the number of days from 14 to seven available for the public in respect of enactment of urgent bills (ii) abolish provisions relating to the enactment of urgent bills as successive administrations abused them (iii) rescind the proposal to amend Article 53 of the Constitution which required members of parliament to take oath against supporting and promoting a separate State (iv) remove proposal to allow dual citizens to enter parliament. In addition to that extend that law to cover the Governor of the Central Bank, Attorney General, IGP, Auditor General, service commanders, judges of the Supreme Court and Secretaries to Ministries and (v) abolish the move to do away with the National Audit Commission and also to ensure no state institution is freed from audit.

Meanwhile, former President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka U.R. de Silva, PC, on Wednesday (9) revealed that Justice Minister Ali Sabri had assured that the Article 53 of the Constitution meant to prevent promotion of a separate state would be accommodated in the 20th Amendment. The revelation was made on Derana Aluth Parlimenthuwa. The BASL Chief was responding to query why the SLPP government resorted to such a course of action when the 19th Amendment left the vital provision intact. De Silva acknowledged the need to rectify mistakes/shortcomings in 20 Amendment.