The National Joint Committee and a group of citizens have expressed concerns over the 22nd Amendment Bill presented to Parliament by the Justice Minister, claiming it was more or less a reintroduction of the 19th Amendment passed by the Yahapalana Government in 2015. The Bill seeks to replace the “Parliamentary Council” introduced by the 20th [...]

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NJC lambasts 22A; says ineffective 19A in different wrapping

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The National Joint Committee and a group of citizens have expressed concerns over the 22nd Amendment Bill presented to Parliament by the Justice Minister, claiming it was more or less a reintroduction of the 19th Amendment passed by the Yahapalana Government in 2015.

The Bill seeks to replace the “Parliamentary Council” introduced by the 20th Amendment with the “Constitutional Council” of the 19th Amendment. The National Procurement Commission and the National Audit Commission which were removed by the 20th Amendment are brought back and the powers of the National Police Commission given by the 19th Amendment are restored, a statement from the NJC said.

“All these commissions existed under the 19th Amendment, with no practical benefit to the public,” the statement said.

The NJC said bribery and corruption continued as usual, the Hambantota port was sold to the Chinese without calling for tenders, the National Police Commission was ineffective when bombs exploded simultaneously in eight locations killing almost 300 people and causing injury to many.

The National Procurement Commission introduced by the 19th Amendment did not have the power to intervene when procurements were done without calling for tenders, or the power to stop an irregularly conducted tender. The only power it had was to monitor the tender process and report to “relevant authorities for necessary action,” the statement said.

“We see no reasons to have three commissions to be in charge of appointment, dismissal, transfer and disciplinary control. Prior to the 17th and 19th Amendment, appointment and dismissal of police officers and officers of the state audit service was entrusted to the Public Service Commission. What is the purpose in having three separate commissions to do the same job except to allow politicians to enjoy the privileges of appointing members to these numerous commissions?” the NJC asked.

The statement also said:

“We need an independent public service and not a so-called ‘independent commissions’. These commissions have only replaced the decision-making senior public officers with “commissioners” nominated by politicians. We should allow the public service to operate independently and career officers to be in charge of important departments such as the Elections Commission. We should ensure an independent Attorney General to deal with corruption and not a “corruption commission” appointed by politicians.

“Meritocracy should be the only criteria in the recruitment to the public service at all levels even in the recruitment of unskilled labourers. The 22nd Amendment should address these issues without trying to replace one useless amendment that does not address the present ills of the nation.

“We see this entire exercise as an attempt to mislead the public without addressing
the genuine demands for a system change.

“The proposed 22nd Amendment does not even attempt to do a system change but to reintroduce the same old structure in a different wrapping. We urge the Government, and all concerned to prevent another uprising by carrying out a complete system change without bringing the “Yahapalana 19th Amendment calling it a panacea for all ailments of the nation.”

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