Sri Lanka Crisis: Opposition To Present Private Member’s Bill To Remove President’s Powers

After quitting Rajapaksa’s party, dozens of the lawmakers decided to sit in the Parliament as independents stripping his government of majority support.

People have been protesting in Sri Lanka due to the economic meltdown | ANI

New Delhi: Amidst the deepening economic crisis in Sri Lanka, the parliamentary group of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) said on Sunday that they have come up with a private member’s bill to scrap the 20th amendment and remove the powers of the presidency.

The decision was taken after a meeting at the Opposition leader’s office. Sri Lankan MP Harshana Rajakaruna told the Daily Mirror that an amendment will be brought to scrap the powers of the President.

"Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa will meet MPs of other parties shortly to get their support. We are confident of numbers as we will try to muster the support of some SLPP MPs as well as those who have decided to become independent," Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella.

The proposition comes amid the calls for the resignation of President Rajapaksa for mismanagement of the economy.

Meanwhile, Rajapaksa invited 41 lawmakers who quit the government to talk about a caretaker government on Sunday.

After quitting Rajapaksa’s party, dozens of the lawmakers decided to sit in the Parliament as independents stripping his government of majority support.

Maithripala Sirisena, the leader of the Freedom Party that withdrew its support of Rajapaksa, said that the rebels wanted Rajapaksa to put forth a unity government for the time being and curtail his powers in order to deal with the crisis.

Sri Lanka has been going through an economic crisis which has forced the people to roads. The country is running short on essential items and facing long power cuts which is why the people are protesting on the roads.

The United Nations Human Rights experts on Friday urged the Sri Lankan government to ensure that a peaceful protest is allowed to the citizens. 

"We are gravely concerned by the recent proclamation of a state of emergency as well as the order that blocked access to social media platforms," the experts said in a statement issued by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The UNHRC also condemned the use of water cannons and tear gas on protestors including the recent social media blackout. “We urge the Sri Lankan Government to allow students, human rights defenders, and others to protest in a peaceful manner, and to freely share their political views and express their discontent, both online and offline,” they said.