Jathika Hela Urumaya General Secretary Patali Champika Ranawaka stated that adequate time should be given to assess the practicality of the 19th Amendment, before insisting on a new constitution.

Releasing a video statement this morning, Ranawaka said that the passing of the 19th Amendment was a landmark step ensuring significant reforms needed at the moment. JHU had insisted that total abolition of executive presidency is unfeasible at the moment. The feasible move would have been to reduce the dictatorial powers of the president and JHU pushed for this from the beginning, he added.

Ranawaka said that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe introduced an amendment on March 13, with the objective of transferring some of the President’s powers to the hands of the Prime Minister. JHU opposed this and the Supreme Court later approved the stance taken by the party, Ranawaka pointed out.

He further added that the 19th Amendment was able to correct some of the mistakes pertaining to the Independent Commissions in the 17th Amendment.

This was an achievement by all stakeholders, including those who supported Mahinda Rajapaksa during the January Presidential Election, Ranawaka said.

He insisted that despite the significance, the 19th Amendment is still incomplete. Parliament should approve the 20th amendment to introduce electoral reform, Ranawaka said.