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Wijeyadasa proposes 21-A to Constitution seeking transfer of President’s executive powers to Cabinet

Published

3 years ago

2022/03/23

SLPP Colombo District lawmaker, Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, has called for the transferring of executive powers of the President to the Cabinet of Ministers by way of an urgent constitutional reform to make the President answerable to Parliament and the people. Former Justice Minister, Wijeyadasa who once served as the President of the Bar Association, has appealed to party leaders, Ministers, State Ministers and members of Parliament to back his proposal to introduce the 21st Amendment to the Constitution.

In a letter addressed to them, MP Rajapakse has said: “During the recent past, our experience has been that every President we brought in was more corrupt, inefficient and incompetent than the his or her predecessor. Now, the people hate all politicians and have no confidence at all in the incumbent rulers. The basic norms and principles of democracy have steeply deteriorated. Unless we make a concerted effort to restore our lost glory in economy and democracy, disregarding our race, language, religion, political ideology, etc., the country would head for anarchy, rendering everyone insecure. If we have to get out of this quagmire, people must give up their subjugation to their deceptive political leaders and parties.

Enactment of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution to achieve the following objects on an urgent basis:

1. Executive powers vested in the Presidency shall be transferred to the Cabinet of Ministers to ensure that the exercise of executive power is monitored by the Parliament.

2. A new President to be elected from and among members of the Parliament forthwith. The Office of the Incumbent President shall cease to be with such election.

3. The new President is empowered to appoint a new Prime Minister who commands the majority of the Parliament by having consensual dialogue with members of Parliament.

4. An Interim Cabinet to be established consisting of Members of Parliament representing all political parties in Parliament.

5. The Interim Government shall continue until the term of the Parliament expires or the Parliament is dissolved otherwise and till the next Cabinet of Ministers is established.

6. The Interim Government shall formulate a short-term and a long-term policy for the restoration of the economy and to protect and promote democratic principles.

7. By way of short-term solutions to the economic crisis, the government shall negotiate with stakeholders through international monetary agencies to reschedule debt services and arrange for funds for essential needs of the people.

8. To appoint competent persons to manage all governmental institutions to ensure the full productivity of the national economy.

9. Reintroduce the price controls on essential items such as food and fertiliser and to ensure the production and supply of essential items and the market.

10. Import substantial amounts of quality fertiliser for paddy, vegetable, tea, and other cultivations.

11. To initiate a programme to reacquire divested national resources through dialogue as well as legal reforms.

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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts

Published

18 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

Latest News

Minister of Foreign Affairs pays his last respects to Pope Francis

Published

19 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]

News

RW to visit CIABOC on Monday

Published

20 hours ago

2025/04/27

Thilina Walpola

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.

Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.

Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.

In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.

Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.

The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.

According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.

Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.

However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.