Co-Cabinet Spokesman and Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila responding to a query by a journalist at the weekly Cabinet media briefing held at the Government Information Department on September 10 said that the Government will accommodate further amendments to the 20th Amendment to the Constitution at the Committee Stage in Parliament if required, reports Daily News. The Justice Minister will table the Bill to provide for the 20th Amendment in Parliament for the first reading after the completion of two weeks from publishing it in the Gazette. Then there is a week to constitutionally challenge it before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court will also inform which Articles need to be amended and whether any of them will require a Referendum. Depending on the Supreme Court’s determination, the Committee appointed to draft the 20th Amendment will make further amendments to the draft Bill as required,” Gammanpila said. The 20th Amendment Bill was gazetted on September 3 following Cabinet approval.
Meanwhile, the anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) Executive Director Asoka Obeysekera addressing a media briefing on September 10 said the 20th Amendment to the Constitution will weaken transparency and accountability of Government in four key areas, reports Colombo Page. He explained how the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution would undermine the Right to Information (RTI) as well as the Bribery Commission's investigative powers. He also pointed out that the abolition of the Audit Commission would weaken public spending monitoring and limit the Elections Commission's power to take action against misuse of public property.