The JVP has said that the Parliament should be dissolved within six months after the enactment of the proposed 21st Amendment to the Constitution.
The JVP made some far reaching proposals as regards the proposed amendment. Its three-member parliamentary group has proposed that any MP who deserted his party under any circumstances should be immediately removed from the Parliament.
The JVP has said so in a letter to the Justice Ministry in response to Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapajse’s request for political parties to make proposals in respect of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution.
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told The Island that his party submitted its proposals in writing as it declined to participate in meetings chaired by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to discuss constitutional proposals.
The JVP has proposed that the President shouldn’t hold any ministerial portfolio.
The following are the proposals pertaining to allocation of portfolios: (1) The Cabinet of Ministers should consists of 25 lawmakers (2) There should be 25 Deputy Ministers (3) There shouldn’t be State Ministers or any other positions created to accommodate members (4) The number of ministers/deputies cannot be increased in the event of a National Government (5) Ministerial portfolios and the assigned subjects should be included in the Constitution and (6) depending on requirement there should be provision for creation of new ministries.
The JVP proposed that the presidential pardon for a person sentenced for death, found guilty in terms of Public Property Act of 1982 No 12, sentenced on a bribery and corruption charges, rape, statutory rape and serious sexual offenses and those found guilty of misappropriation of public property, criminal misuse of power and criminal breach of trust should be subjected to parliamentary approval.
Members of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Secretaries to Ministries should be appointed by the Constitutional Council.
As regards dual citizenship, the JVP has proposed in addition to members of Parliament, dual citizens cannot serve the Constitutional Council and independent commissions. The JVP has proposed that the Constitutional Council cannot appoint dual citizens to the positions it was constitutionally empowered to do.
The JVP recommended that the police and the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruptions) should be empowered to initiate investigations into anyone required to make asset declaration or act on a complaint received from the public.
Except dual citizens, all should be eligible to contest parliamentary election until he or she reaches the age of 70.