National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa said that the amendments proposed by the opposition made the Constitutional Council proposed under the 19th Amendment responsible to the parliament.

Speaking to a local media station late last night, the UPFA MP said the 19th Amendment had been designed to transfer some of the powers of the president to a non-elected Constitutional Council which is not responsible to the parliament. Individuals with vested interests could have been appointed to the council, he said, adding that it could have led to anarchy. However, by changing its composition so that seven of its ten members are MPs, the council has been brought under the parliamentary control, he argued.

The government also assured that the independent commissions would also be answerable to the parliament.

Weerawansa said that the amendments suggested by the opposition strengthened the power of the parliament.