UNP members opposes delay on submitting 19th Amendment

The ruling United National Party (UNP) says it will oppose another attempt to delay the 19th Amendment to the constitution from being submitted for a vote in Parliament.

UNP MP and Deputy Justice Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe said that the Government will push for the debate on the 19th Amendment to take place on Monday April 27 as scheduled and for the vote to be conducted on the proposal the next day. He said that if there is another attempt by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to postpone it then President Maithripala Sirisena, as chairman of the party, will need to decide the next step. “This is the last chance. We will not postpone it again,” he said. Senasinghe said that if the Government is unable to pass the 19th Amendment in Parliament then a situation may arise where Parliament will need to be dissolved. He noted that SLFP members in the Government were given vehicles and other facilities and so they must back the 19th Amendment, failing which the President will need to take a firm stand.