A deviation among Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Parliamentarians on proposed 21st amendment and President hopes to intervene for a compromise among them political sources said. Accordingly President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is scheduled to hold a special discussion next Monday with members of the SLPP to reach a consensus on the 21st Amendment.
According to political sources, a majority of the People’s Alliance (PA) has agreed to support the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, which includes a clause stating that a person with dual citizenship cannot represent the country in Parliament.
Although the SLPP MPs have agreed to reduce the powers of the President in the new amendment, a group of people have protested against the abolition of Basil Rajapaksa’s parliamentary seat due to the implementation of the clause that a dual citizen cannot hold a parliamentary seat.
The sources said that if the 21st Amendment is passed, a group of parliamentarians have requested the President to approve the provisions that would abolish dual citizenship and reduce the powers of the President after the current President’s term.
However, a MP of the SLPP told Lankasara that the final decision will be taken next Monday after discussing the issues that have arisen regarding the 21st amendment.
