News
Exclusive: New Amendment proposed to address political crisis
Prez to be empowered to remove PM, cabinet among far reaching proposals
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Amidst Sri Lanka’s worst ever political and economic crises that triggered a spate of protests,
two of Sri Lanka’s eminent lawyers, Romesh de Silva, PC and Manohara de Silva, PC, have urged
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to bring in an urgent amendment to the Constitution to address the issues at hand.
Romesh de Silva led the nine-member expert team that recently finalized a draft Constitution as requested by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on behalf of the government.
They have advised the President that it wouldn’t be possible to form a cabinet representing all political parties represented in Parliament under the present Constitution without a fresh amendment.
They have also submitted the proposed amendment to the leader of the main Opposition Party, the Samagi Jana Balvegaya (SJB), who is also the Leader of the Opposition.
Well-informed sources said that urgent action was required to address the political and economic crisis.
The success on the current efforts to save the national economy could go awry unless the President and all political parties represented in Parliament take tangible measures to restore political stability, the two legal experys have pointed out.
Sources pointed out that the President hadn’t been able to finalize the cabinet nearly a week after members of the cabinet except Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned. Sources said that the President and the Opposition Leader could make an effort to reach a consensus with their respective parties.
The text of the proposed AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
The following Article to be inserted after Article 44 and shall be numbered as Article 44A
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Constitution, the President may in extraordinary and special circumstances –
(a) Remove from office the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet of Ministers
(b) Appoint a Prime Minister in accordance with paragraph (3) of Article 43 subject to the approval of Parliament.
(c) Appoint a Cabinet of Ministers consisting of not more than fifteen Ministers who –
- Have the expertise in the subject and function assigned to him under sub paragraph (d)and,
- are not Members of Parliament or of any political party :
Provided that, the appointment of each of the members of the Cabinet of Ministers is approved by Parliament:
Provided further that the Appointment of each of such members is approved by the majority of the members of Parliament who are not members of the party of which the Prime Minister is a member
(d) Assign subjects and functions to such Minister, provided that such Minister has the expertise in any such subject and is capable of performing the functions so assigned.
(2)The Cabinet of Ministers appointed under paragraph (1) shall function for a period of one year and may be reappointed until the next Parliamentary election is concluded, subject to the approval of Parliament
Sources said that if accepted, provision would have to be made to compel Ministers to attend Parliament to answer questions regarding his/her Ministry. Romesh de Silva and Manohara de Silva have informed the President in the wake of controversy over Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa not being present in Parliament to answer questions regarding the financial crisis.
More than 108,000 complaints of child abuse had been received by the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) between 2015 and 2025, Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj told Parliament yesterday.
Responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa under Standing Order 27/2, the Minister said 4,421 child abuse cases were pending before High Courts as of April 30 this year, with indictments already filed against the accused.
She said the NCPA was working with 47 Police Child and Women Protection Bureaus under the Police Children and Women Abuse Prevention Division to expedite the hearing and conclusion of these cases.
The Minister said measures were also being taken to protect child victims during legal proceedings by introducing a system to record their evidence through video in a safe and child-friendly environment, thereby reducing the need for them to appear in court.
She said discussions were underway with the Ministries of Health and Mass Media and other relevant institutions to establish nine provincial video evidence recording units.
by Saman Indrajith ✍️
The Court of Appeal yesterday dismissed a writ petition seeking to postpone the 2026 G.C.E. A/L Examination by two months.
The petition, filed by a group of students due to sit the examination for the first and second time, sought an order delaying the examination, which is scheduled to commence next month.
The Court announced its decision after considering submissions made in support of the application and declined to grant leave to proceed with the petition.
As a result, the 2026 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination will be held as scheduled in August.
Leader of the House and Minister Bimal Rathnayake yesterday criticised the conduct of MP Archchuna Ramanathan in Parliament, describing the behaviour of certain lawmakers as “uncivilised, disgraceful and indecent”, while a heated exchange followed between government and opposition members.
Rathnayake made the remarks when Ramanathan attempted to raise a point of order during parliamentary proceedings.
“This parliament has one or two members who behave in a very uncivilised, disgraceful manner. We tolerate them because one of them is mentally ill,” Rathnayake said.
He alleged that Ramanathan had insulted even members of the Tamil community.
“The things he says may not be heard through the microphone, but the four walls of this Parliament are witnesses,” Rathnayake said, adding that Ramanathan’s conduct was not limited to Parliament.
He claimed that the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee meeting could not be held due to Ramanathan’s behaviour and said MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam had written to the Speaker stating that he could not sit near him.
The Speaker intervened during the exchange, warning Ramanathan not to behave in a manner that would turn Parliament into “a joke”. He also said the MP had previously addressed him in an insulting manner.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa criticised the manner in which Rathnayake and the Speaker had addressed the matter, saying MPs should not be spoken to improperly and urging members to follow parliamentary Standing Orders.
Ramanathan, responding to the remarks, said: “I may be a psycho, but I am not a homosexual.”
by Saman Indrajith ✍️
Oil prices hit $100 for the first time since May
US hits dozens of trading partners with new wave of tariffs
Arachchige, Rathnayake and Malinga pump Jaffna
Hermann, Liyanage and Mujeeb steer Colombo Kaps to a 23 run win
Showers expected in the Western and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts
Child abuse crisis: 108,000 complaints reported in 10 years
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Features5 days agoTwo memorable excerpts from a former SLAF commander’s memoir
-
Business5 days ago‘Giving up was never an option’: The fisherman who fought back after losing millions in SL
-
Latest News6 days agoDavis cup Asia/Oceania Group IV 2026 to be held in Colombo from 20th to 25th July
-
Features5 days agoErdoğan’s New Republic
-
Life style5 days agoTaste of the Swiss Alps comes to Colombo
-
Midweek Review2 days agoThree high-profile alleged suicides shaping key investigations
-
News6 days agoEvidence recorded in money laundering case against Yoshitha Rajapaksa
-
News6 days agoDengue outbreak gallops ahead: Infections surpasses 73,455, leaving 50 dead