Sri Lankan Cabinet passes 21st Amendment aimed at empowering Parliament over President

The 21st Amendment is expected to annul the 20A to the Constitution, which gives unfettered powers to Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Sri Lankan Cabinet on Monday passed the 21st Amendment to its Constitution aimed at empowering the country’s Parliament over the Executive President and now it will be tabled in Parliament, a top Minister has said.

The 21st Amendment is expected to annul the 20A to the Constitution, which gives unfettered powers to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after abolishing the 19th Amendment that will strengthen Parliament.

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"The 21 amendment was tabled and passed in Cabinet today and will be tabled in @ParliamentLK soon. Like to thank @RW_UNP and @wijerajapakshe for pushing it through," Minister of Tourism and Lands Harin Fernando tweeted.

The 21A aims, among other reforms, at barring dual citizens from contesting elections to hold public office.

A section of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Party (SLPP) was opposed to bringing in 21A without addressing the current economic crisis.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had batted for the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, saying it will curb the president's unlimited powers while enhancing the role of Parliament in governing the debt-ridden country which is also facing an unprecedented political turmoil.