Introduce 21st Amendment, restore 19th Amendment provisions – BASL

Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) President Saliya Peiris, PC said the Government should immediately introduce the 21st Amendment to the Constitution repealing the 20th Amendment and restoring viable provisions of the 19th amendment in the new Amendment.

He was speaking at a press conference held at the BASL yesterday (5).President’s Counsel Peiris also stated that the introduction of the provisions of the 19th Amendment should result in the re-establishment of the Constitutional Council, the Independent Commissions which existed under the 19th Amendment whilst enhancing their financial independence, transparency and accountability.

He further stated that without political stability it would be virtually impossible to resolve the economic crisis.

The Bar Association further proposed that the appointment of the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and the Monetary Board should also be done with the approval of the Constitutional Council.

The proposal includes the abolition of the Executive Presidency, the formation of an Interim Government of national unity, with a Prime Minister able to create a consensus among all political parties, a 15 member Cabinet of Ministers, a 15 member Advisory Council and the adoption of a common minimum programme.

The Bar Association further proposed that the President should not hold any portfolio as stipulated by the 19th Amendment of the Constitution.

The objective of the proposals are to create political, economic and social stability in the country, creating an environment to address the fundamental problems that have led to the current crisis and imperil future reforms,to restructure external debt and enter into appropriate programmes with multilateral institutions including the IMF, ensure accountability by strengthening independent institutions and etc.