@sjbsrilanka presented proposed 21A bill to SG of @ParliamentLK. Proposals include: 1) Abolish current Executive Presidency: Parliament to elect President 2) Cabinet will be continuously accountable & responsible to Parliament, can be removed by no confidence motion
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3) Reduction of Maximum Cabinet Ministers to 25, maximum of non-cabinet and deputy Ministers to 25. No increase of Ministers in event of coalition govt 4) Stringent provisions to prevent corrupt crossovers
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5) Establish Constitutional Council & independent commissions including Audit & Procurement Commissions 6) Constitutional recognition of National Security Council 7) Establish a State Council to obtain advice of experts / public representations on matters of public importance
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8) Re-establishing Constitutional democracy and protecting sovereignty of people through the above
Police are bound to uphold & defend the Constitution. They are bound to respect, secure & advance sovereign citizens' fundamental rights, including free speech.
'Superior orders' is not a defence to unlawful acts.
EVEN IF force is necessary, only reasonable force can be used.
@PresRajapaksa PM during your Jana Ghosha days, the Supreme Court, while upholding the right of peaceful protest, cautioned:
"Stifling the peaceful expression of legitimate dissent today can only result, inexorably, in the catastrophic explosion of violence some other day."
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You must immediately (1) condemn this excessive force used by the police, (2) ensure immediate action against the police, (3) publicly assure the protestors their fundamental rights will be respected & protected, & (4) ensure non-recurrence.
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Some of the clauses have been held to require a special (2/3) majority, while some have been held to require 2/3 + referendum. 👇🏼
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Re Composition of the Commission:
AG has agreed to include amendments to ensure that the majority of commissioners are Sri Lankan. (Under the original formulation, all could have been foreigners)
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Clauses 3(6), 30(3), 55(2), & 58(1) provided that Regulatory Authorities (RA) could be compelled by the Commission to grant requisite approvals.
SC determines that this violates A.12(1). Amendments to be made to ensure that RA retain their discretion.
1. The Bill provides for the establishment of a Commission consisting 5-7 persons appointed at the sole discretion of the President (cl.7). Such persons need not be citizens.
2. The Commission appoints the Director General (CEO) (cl.25). There is no requirement that such person be a citizen.
3. The accounts of the Commission are required to be audited by a qualified auditor (cl.15). There is no requirement that the audit be by the Auditor General.
4. Only an 'Authorised Person' can engage in business within the Port City (cl.26). The Commission will determine who will be so authorised...
Sad day for #Democracy in #SriLanka... a large majority of MPs voted to enact #20A to reduce checks and balances, and to concentrate powers in the office of President...
Several Govt MPs who objected to clauses such as that permitting dual citizens seeking election to Parliament, (and those who said they could not in good conscience vote for 20A), voted for it anyway! #Hypocrisy
Several MPs who voted for the progressive #19A also voted for the regressive #20A.