Fireworks at Cabinet meeting on 13 A
By Our Political Editor-Sunday, June 16, 2013
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The Government took a step backward on Thursday from stripping two major provisions of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
Instead, it chose to go ahead with only one change after a stormy weekly ministerial meeting. Some ministers hurled strong insults and accusations against one another. As it reached a crescendo, on three different occasions, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had to warn his ministers not to leak anything to the media. Even the names of some newspapers were mentioned in the melee.
Instead, it chose to go ahead with only one change after a stormy weekly ministerial meeting. Some ministers hurled strong insults and accusations against one another. As it reached a crescendo, on three different occasions, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had to warn his ministers not to leak anything to the media. Even the names of some newspapers were mentioned in the melee.
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe visiting the tragedy-struck Maggona area before he visited Balapitiya where alert security officers prevented a mob attack on him. Pic by Sarath Siriwardene
Now, the Government will move a 19th Amendment to the Constitution as an “Urgent Bill” and pass it with a two-thirds majority. It will seek to repeal Article 154 A (3) that allows “two or three adjoining provinces to form one administrative unit with one elected Provincial Council, one Chief Minister and one Board of Ministers.” The revocation will come before elections are held to the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) in September this year.