Constitutional amendments aimed at strengthening independent commissions, vesting more powers with Parliament and preventing persons with dual citizenship from holding membership in Parliament will be presented to the Cabinet for approval tomorrow. Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told the Sunday Times that a final review of the amendments would be taken up with Prime Minister Ranil [...]

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More powers to independent commissions; dual citizens cannot become MPs

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Constitutional amendments aimed at strengthening independent commissions, vesting more powers with Parliament and preventing persons with dual citizenship from holding membership in Parliament will be presented to the Cabinet for approval tomorrow.

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told the Sunday Times that a final review of the amendments would be taken up with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris shortly before the Cabinet meeting.

He said the Bill, already gazetted as the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, would comprise proposals keeping with the Supreme Court ruling on 19th Amendment with the objective of preventing a referendum to implement the proposed amendments.

“The objective is to get the amendments approved by the Cabinet and thereafter submitted to Parliament as soon as possible,” Mr Rajapakshe said.

The reintroduction of the meaningful independent commissions and procurement and audit commissions are among the key features of the proposed amendments, according to the minister. The selection of the Central Bank Governor will be subjected to approval of the Constitutional Council instead of the President retaining the powers with regard to the appointment.

In terms of the amendments, a person who is not a citizen of Sri Lanka or who is also a citizen of another country while being a citizen of Sri Lanka will not be eligible to hold membership in Parliament.

The Constitutional Council will comprise the Prime Minister, the Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, one MP approved by the President, two MPs nominated by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, a professional nominated by the Sri Lanka Organisation of Professional Association, a person nominated by the Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce, a professor of a State University nominated by the University Grants Commission, an MP nominated by agreement of the majority of MPs belonging to the political parties or independent groups other than MPs from the parties which the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader belong to. The Speaker will be the Chairman of the Council.

The Constitutional Council will recommend to the President persons to be appointed to the independent commissions as chairpersons and members.

The independent commission will be the Election, Public Service, National Police, Audit Service, Human Rights, Finance, Delimitation, National Procurement Commissions and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption.

The Procurement Commission will be entrusted with formulating fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost effective procedures and guidelines for the procurement of goods and services, works, consultancy services and information systems by the Government.

Earlier the Samagi Jana Balawegaya submitted the proposed 21st Amendment which included proposals to abolish the Executive Presidential system, limiting the number of cabinet ministers to 25 and non-cabinet and deputy ministers to 25. No increase of ministers in the event of a coalition government.

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