Cabinet nod for Constitutional changes

*Out: Presidential term limits

*Compulsory: Presidential visits to House

*Revised:17th Amendment

The Cabinet of Ministers yesterday approved the proposed amendments to the Constitution which includes the removal of the two term restriction on the Presidency, re-organization of the Independent Commissions under the 17th Amendment and enabling the President to sit in Parliament, once in three months.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena addressing the media said that the Cabinet of Ministers at a special meeting chaired by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees yesterday morning had unanimously approved the draft Constitutional amendments to be brought to Parliament as an urgent Bill.

According to the Minister the Cabinet paper in this connection had been presented by Prime Minister D M Jayaratne and later a detailed description on the changes had been given by External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris.

The relevant proposals regarding the Constitutional amendments are to be tabled in Parliament on September 08 after presenting it to the Supreme Court for its determination.

The Minister also said that the Government was confident of obtaining more than 160 Yes votes for the amendments in the 225 member Parliament, which clearly exceeds of the required two-thirds majority (151).

The Minister identifed the changes as a very positive step towards stability and development.

He said that they would further strengthen people’s sovereignty as well as remove hurdles in the existing Constitution, which imposed restrictions on the country’s development.

Explaining the proposed changes the Minister said that removing the two term restriction on the Presidency was done to ensure that peoples popular choice would prevail. He identified the move as one which would ensure peoples sovereignty.

On the other hand the President sitting in Parliament every three months would enhance the relationship between the Parliament and the Presidency, he added.

Commenting on the changes to the amendments to re-organize the Constitutional Councils and Independent Commissions the Minister said that the number of members in the CC would be brought down to five from the earlier ten.Responsibility of appointing heads of corporations and departments which come under Government purview would be vested with the Cabinet, he added.

The Minister was of the view that the 17th Amendment brought in 2001 was made hastily and as a result there had been many discrepancies. He also blamed the lethargy of the Opposition in appointing members to the CC .

To alleviate anomalies the proposed amendments would include provisions to re-organize the commissions, he added. The Minister identified the proposed amendments as another fulfilled election pledge by the UPFA.