ECONOMYNEXT- Leader of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Rauff Hakeem is urging the members of his party not to vote in favour of the 20th amendment, especially in those who are representing the eastern province hoping that would be politically pragmatic given the development needs of the area.
Speaking in the parliament earlier today, he said that SLMC has met few times to consider these amendments which have far-reaching consequences to the equilibrium of power between the executive, legislative and the judiciary.
He made this statement as social media reported that some of the members of the minority parties in the opposition are going to vote in favour of the 20th amendment.
“Some members who are representing the eastern province were urging us to consider this bill and its present contents have sought to be amended positively hoping that would be politically pragmatic given the development needs of the area,” he said.
He said that he had taken up the position that several of the provisions inimical to the concept of separation of powers and as matter of fact would make parliament too servile to the executive and compromises the independence of the judiciary.
“I will be meeting our parliamentary group which consist of 5 members to once again explain my personal stand and urge them to vote based on the principles I have laid out in my deliberations. It is my fervent hope that the political experience for the sake of compromises should not be doled out as political pragmatism,” he said. (Colombo, October 22, 2020)
Reported by Imesh Ranasinghe