The opposition has raised 3 key concerns over the draft 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, especially pertaining to the powers of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Stating that the Constitutional Amendment does not significantly curtail the powers of the President, they said instead it is a drastic dilution of the 19th Amendment.

The Opposition politicians claim that the 22nd Amendment has fallen far short of what the government had initially promised.

“When President Gotabaya Rajapaksa addressed the nation on May 11, he promised to bring back the 19th Amendment and even said he was open to abolishing the Executive Presidency. Yet what they are bringing now is not 19 or even 19 minus. It’s 19 minus, minus,” Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella pointed out.

Following are the three key concerns raised by the opposition on the Draft 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.

• President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will still retain the power to dismiss the Prime Minister.
• The restrictions on the President’s powers in appointing Cabinet Ministers and allocating subjects and functions to Ministers will only come into operation from the next Parliament.
• The Constitutional Council (CC) composition has been manipulated to ensure that the government will be in the majority there. (NewsWire)