“Failure to bring in 19A will be a complete reversal of people’s mandate”: Weliamuna
April 10, 2015
If the present Parliament fails to bring in the 19th Amendment, President Maithripala Sirisena has a duty to dissolve it immediately and seek a mandate from the people to elect one which can change the Constitution, noted J.C. Weliamuna, leading human rights lawyer and former Director of Transparency International Sri Lanka.
He pointed out that implementing 19A is everybody’s responsibility but now it is a matter that is in the hands of the 285 Parliamentarians. “Two-thirds of them have to support this, otherwise the President has no option but to dissolve this Parliament,” said Weliamuna, who is also an active member of the People’s Movement for a Just Society.
He stressed that people in the Government who jumped at the last minute or who supported Mahinda Rajapaksa could not suddenly say they are against it. “Failure to bring in the 19th Amendment will be a complete reversal of the mandate of the people.”
Following are excerpts:
He pointed out that implementing 19A is everybody’s responsibility but now it is a matter that is in the hands of the 285 Parliamentarians. “Two-thirds of them have to support this, otherwise the President has no option but to dissolve this Parliament,” said Weliamuna, who is also an active member of the People’s Movement for a Just Society.
He stressed that people in the Government who jumped at the last minute or who supported Mahinda Rajapaksa could not suddenly say they are against it. “Failure to bring in the 19th Amendment will be a complete reversal of the mandate of the people.”
Following are excerpts:
