Sumanthiran: 21st amendment is an eyewash

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s 21st amendment to the constitution is an eyewash that has not stripped the office of the executive president of any of its powers as promised, opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA) legislator M A Sumanthiran said.

Speaking in parliament during the second reading of the 2023 budget, Sumanthiran said the 21st amendment allows the president to hold any number of ministerial portfolios, contrary to assurances made that it would serve as a check on the excesses of Sri Lanka’s all powerful executive presidency.

“This amendment was just an eyewash. It really did not make anything independent in this country. Nor did it strip the presidency of any executive powers,” said the MP.

The Jaffna district opposition lawmaker said that, since 2010, he has opposed the president – who is not an MP – holding the finance portfolio.