(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to present the proposals submitted by political parties to Parliament to draft the 21st Amendment to the Constitution at the first meeting of the new Cabinet to be held today.
The first meeting of the newly appointed Cabinet of Ministers is scheduled to be held at 5 pm Monday (25) under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
A new Cabinet was sworn-in on the 18th of April following the mass resignation of senior Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) members earlier in the month.
The main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the United National Party and the group of MPs who recently became independent have handed over their parties’ proposals to the Speaker for the drafting of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. Thereafter, the Speaker has forwarded the proposals to the Prime Minister or reference to the Cabinet.
Following the approval of the proposals by the Cabinet, they will be referred to the Legal Draftsman’s Department for adoption as the basis of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution.
It has been decided to present the 21st Amendment to the Constitution to Parliament soon.
The party leaders in Parliament recently agreed to repeal the 20th Amendment to the Constitution and bring in the 21st Amendment to the Constitution with positive changes, eliminating the shortcomings of the 19th Amendment.
Meanwhile a meeting of party leaders is scheduled to be held on the 28th. The 21st Amendment to the Constitution and the future of Parliament will be decided there.
