Aye for 19 Amendment
April 29, 2015- ‘Politics is the art of the possible’ aptly demonstrated as parties finally reach consensus on historic amendment in marathon Parliamentary session
- 212 vote in favour, one against and another abstains; 10 MPs absent
- Constitutional Council becomes final deadlock, Govt. compromises to get 19A through
- Four MPs to sit on Council, with three professionals and three ex officio members
- Drawn-out committee stage finally ends at 10.45 p.m.
- Pro-Mahinda faction of UPFA puts up strong resistance during Committee Stage
- Glad tidings for good governance and democracy as passing of 19th Amendment hailed as victory for people
- PM says consensus led to historic moment
- Opposition Leader says Parliament must yet rise to deliver electoral reforms via 20th Amendment
- P’ment to meet again on 19 May
President Maithripala Sirisena together with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament in this file photo. They were the champions of the 19th Amendment in the national interest despite many challenges
By Dharisha Bastians
Parliament last night passed the historic 19th Amendment to the Constitution with an overwhelming majority in a marathon session, though the triumph was marred slightly for President Maithripala Sirisena’s minority Government when it was forced to compromise on the composition of the Constitutional Council to get the legislation through the House.
The 19th Amendment was passed by 225-member Parliament with 212 votes in support of it, 1 vote against it from MP Sarath Weerasekara and 1 abstention (Ajith Kumara). Ten MPs, including former Premier D.M. Jayaratne and Basil Rajapaksa, were absent during the vote. The passage of the 19th Amendment will be recorded as a major victory for the Sirisena Government, after President Sirisena made constitutional amendments to slash the powers of the presidency and de-politicise state institutions, a central pledge of his election campaign.
Parliament last night passed the historic 19th Amendment to the Constitution with an overwhelming majority in a marathon session, though the triumph was marred slightly for President Maithripala Sirisena’s minority Government when it was forced to compromise on the composition of the Constitutional Council to get the legislation through the House.
The 19th Amendment was passed by 225-member Parliament with 212 votes in support of it, 1 vote against it from MP Sarath Weerasekara and 1 abstention (Ajith Kumara). Ten MPs, including former Premier D.M. Jayaratne and Basil Rajapaksa, were absent during the vote. The passage of the 19th Amendment will be recorded as a major victory for the Sirisena Government, after President Sirisena made constitutional amendments to slash the powers of the presidency and de-politicise state institutions, a central pledge of his election campaign.
