Those close to President Ranil Wickremesinghe had threatened first time MPs that Parliament would be dissolved if they do not support the 22nd Amendment, Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist party (FSP), Pubudu Jagoda alleged yesterday.
The 22A seeks to amend the Constitution to bring Article 83 in conformity with the amendments made by the 19th Amendment to Articles 30(2) and 62(2).
Jagoda said the amendment was unnecessary and made no sense whatsoever in constitutional terms. Wickremesinghe and company, in bringing this amendment, wants to delay the presidential election, as the exercise entail holding a referendum in addition to being passed by Parliament, he said.
“Leaders of the government are demanding MPs to support this Bill. If they do not vote for the Bill, the Parliament will be dissolved. There are a lot of first time MPs in Parliament and if it is dissolved early, they will lose many benefits, including pensions,” he said.
Jagoda said the behaviour of the Election Commission is highly suspicious. Chairman of the Election Commission R.M.A.L. Ratnayake told a recent press conference, given that candidates follow auspicious times, the Commission, too, would fix a date and time ensuring that the ‘Rahu kalaya’ is avoided.
“You can look at a ‘litha’ and avoid the Rahu kalaya. We have had many elections in the past and we have not chosen dates and times based on auspicious times,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Justice, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, however, said he instructed the Secretary to his Ministry, on Thursday evening (18) not to Gazette the 22A, until the Presidential election is held.