20A: Cabinet full of puppets – JVP

By Saman Indrajith

JVP-led NPP MP Vijtiha Herath says all members of the Cabinet were forced to approve 20th Amendment even though most of them were not aware of its content. “It was announced that the Cabinet had approved the draft bill titled the 20th Amendment on Sept 2. No one in the cabinet could comment on it. Later, the Prime Minister appointed a committee of nine members including five cabinet ministers to study it. This shows clearly that they put up their hands on Sept 02 without knowing what was in the draft bill. Now, the committee has submitted its report but none had the courage to present that report to the last cabinet meeting held on Wednesday. The members of the Cabinet are now helpless as the Aesop’s Council of Mice who could not find one to bell the cat.

“The plight of today’s Cabinet is an indication of what’s in store for people in the near future under an executive made so powerful by the 20th Amendment.”

Asked what the JVP would do about 20A, MP Herath said: “We will do everything possible to defeat it. We hope that people will stand up against this unjust, undemocratic attempt to create a monster. We are conducting awareness campaigns.