Ranil Says UNP Supports Proposed 19th Amendment

United National Party (UNP) National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said his party supports the draft proposal of a constitutional amendment presented by the Pivithuru Hetak organization led by Jathika Hela Urumaya parliamentarian Athuraliye Rathana Thero.

Speaking in parliament yesterday, he said there were reports that the government is hoping to present the 19th Amendment to the Constitution presented by Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero as an emergency bill in parliament in November.

Wickremesinghe asked whether the government is planning to do so and requested the government to hold discussions with the opposition if the proposal will be presented as an emergency bill, so that the parties can come to an agreement without a debate.

Responding to the Opposition Leader, the leader of the House Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the government will follow the due process to if it wants to amend the Constitution.