Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)Party To Oppose The Proposed 19th Amendment

Hela Urumaya Party Logo

While describing the proposed 19th amendment to the constitution as a constitutional coup to make the executive presidency a powerless post ,The Jathika Hela Urumaya(National Heritage Party) MP and Minister of Power and Energy of the present Government Champika Ranwake had vowed that his party will take every possible measure to defeat that amendment.

Minister Ranwake was the only Cabinet member that opposed the 19th amendment when it was approved by all other Cabinet Members at an Emergency Cabinet Meeting held last week.

While Addressing a Press Briefing held in Colombo today(24) Minister Ranawake has said that the aim of the proposed 19th amendment is to remove the powers vested to executive presidency such as power to dissolving the Parliament and appointing Judiciary members and to make the Prime Minister a more powerful person.

The new draft bill on the 19th amendment proposed that the executive president will be no longer the head of the government and president need to take the advise of the prime minister when  making every decision.However it stated that the president will continue as the chief commander of the security forces,The amendment also suggested to reduce the president's term of six years to five years Minister has further said.

The Jathika Hela Urumaya Party will not against the executive presidency and only against the arbitrary powers  that vested to the presidency he has said.