Sri Lanka PM announces constitutional reform to make President accountable to Parliament

In a major development, Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe anunced an amendment to country’s constitution that will make president and cabinet accountable to parliament. 21st amendment to constitution allows formation of a National Council, which will have power to summon Cabinet of ministers as well as chairman of Committees. For years, Rajapakshas have been accused of an authoritarian regime with neo-patrimonial oligarchy governing island. 

“We propose a National Council. A committee consisting of Speaker, Prime Minister, leader of opposition and leaders of major parties is called National Council. National Council can talk about policies of country as well as about decisions of Cabinet,” said Sri Lankan Prime Minister in a statement. Elaborating furr, he highlighted "Standing Order 111 under which oversight committees will be appointed that will report to Parliament on policies".

Sri Lanka is currently battered with toughest ecomic crisis since its independence. dearth of Foreign Exchange and inflation has triggered a power reshuffle in country, subsequently leading to  appointment of veteran leader Wickremesinghe as PM. On Sunday, he regarded 20th amendment of constitution as one of major issues responsible for country’s plunging ecomy. In his statement, he also pointed out urgency to alter 20th amendment brought back executive presidency in country and gave President Gotabaya Rajapaksa unfettered powers.

Sri Lanka to follow India's example; forms 12 new committees

In order to strengn powers of Parliament, Wickremesinghe said that new laws will follow examples of countries such as United Kingdom, New Zealand and India. PM said that new laws would strengn Parliament to exercise monetary powers. Currently, Sri Lanka has three committees on Government Finance at present -  Public Finance Committee, Accounts Committee and Committee on Public Enterprises.

Wickremesinghe proposed to strengn powers of se committees and introduced two new ones - Legal and Methodological Committees. PM also anunced ten oversight committees, Chairperson of which would be appointed by "backbencher MPs" and t by ministers.

(Im: AP)