JVP won’t back 22 A unless…

The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill scheduled to be put to the vote in Parliament tomorrow evening would not be supported by JVP votes unless the government incorporates the party’s proposals to the draft bill.

Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte on Monday, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said his party had proposed that the amendments contain provisions for banning MPs crossing over, limiting the number of ministers and deputy ministers and a six-month term limit for the post of Acting President.

Dissanayake said that MPs crossing over had become the bane of Lankan politics and that should be brought to an end. “We have a culture of MPs crossing over for various reasons such obtaining ministerial positions, benefits, money, land, houses and even to evade legal proceedings. By crossing over after the people have voted they distort the will of the people,” the JVP leader said.

Dissanayake said the party proposed a similar provision to be added to the 19th Amendment. “We wanted the 19A to provide for expelling crossovers from Parliament. But our proposal was not taken on board. But the people of this country know that MPs cross over for personal benefits and to have cases against them withdrawn,” he said.

The JVP leader said that considering the large number of ministerial positions created to lure MPs into crossing over to the government, an amendment must also be included to limit ministerial and deputy ministerial posts while state minister positions should be done away with.

“Even after Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced to flee, the same old persons were once again appointed as ministers. Some more ministers are to be appointed. This Constitution allows the President to spend public funds according to his whims and fancies,” the JVP leader said, adding that the number of ministers and deputy ministers should be 25 each.

The JVP leader said the existing constitutional provision for allowing Parliament to appoint a President should be amended. “This allows a person who cannot become an Executive President to be appointed as one for four and a half years. This is undemocratic. It does not reflect the sovereignty of the people. Therefore, we propose a president can be appointed temporarily for six months after the post is vacated and an election to be held thereafter to elect a new president,” he said. (SI)