Chief Whip says 17th Amendment now defunct

Wijitha Nakkavita and Irangika Range

Chief Government Whip and Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told Parliament yesterday that the 17th Amendment to the Constitution is now defunct and there was no use in taking up its provisions.

Answering a question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake as to why the Police Commission is not established, the Minister said the 17th Amendment now had no practical value.

As the provisions of the 17th Amendment are not functioning, powers are now vested with the relevant Ministers to act answering to the situation, he said.

“For the State of defunct of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution both the Government and the Opposition must take the shared responsibility and the blame,” he said.

Gunawardena said Ministers do not interfere with police affairs as alleged by the Opposition MP and denied that there were any political interference.