Former State Minister of Higher Education Professor Rajiva Wijesinha stated that he sat in opposition in parliament for several reasons including his objection to the 19th Amendment. The amendment published in the Gazette Notification is not what was finalized on Sunday at the party leaders’ meeting, he stated, adding that the Prime Minister had taken more control than it was agreed upon.

Speaking to ‘Asian Mirror’, he said that the earlier draft had said the president must always act on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister agreed to remove this provision only after great persuasion, Wijesinha revealed. However, the bill in the Gazette Notification carries some discrepancy, he added.

According to the 19th Amendment, Article 3 of the Constitution will state that the president is “the Head of the State, the Head of the Executive and of the Government and Commander in Chief of the armed Forces.” However, Article 42 (3) would read, “The Prime Minister shall be the head of the Cabinet of Ministers.” Wijesinha asked how the Prime Minister can be the Head of Cabinet while the president is the Head of Government.

He also said that despite the limit on the number of Cabinet and non-Cabinet Ministers, there is nothing on the scientific method of assigning Cabinet Ministerial portfolios as promised in the Maithripala Sirisena policy statement for the presidential election. Article 43 (1) states that “The Prime Minister shall determine the number of Ministers of the Cabinet of Ministers, and the Ministries and the assignment of subjects and functions to such Ministers.”

By taking the leadership of the Cabinet, the Prime Minister has taken control over the president, Wijesinha said. Furthermore, he pointed out the operational date given in the Amendment. Stating that the operational date is April 22 for most of the provisions, Wijesinha said that the UNP might be thinking of the election immediately afterwards. 'This is quite a cunning move,' he asserted.

Wijesinha also explained the details pertaining to his resignation from his Ministerial portfolio as a State Minister, adding that Cabinet Minister Kabir Hashim had told him on three occasions that he spoke on the matter with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Hashim later told him that Wickremesinghe wanted to talk with former president Chandrika Kumaratunga over the issue. Wijesinha said that it had been a month since Wickremesinghe had given the promise.

“I do not believe it takes a month for Ranil Wickremesinghe to talk to Chandrika Kumaratunga over the matter” he added.

Wijesinha added that he continues to support Maithripala Sirisena and the promised reforms. He added that since he was not a Cabinet Minister he could do only a certain amount of work. However, from the opposition he can introduce private bills and continue the fight for reform, he said.