Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says he is working on amending the constitution to make the President and the Cabinet accountable to Parliament.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said Party Leaders must decide on the timing and methodology to abolish the much debated Executive Presidency.
Making a special address to the nation, Premier Wickremesinghe also emphasised the need to strengthen Parliament through the appointment of several financial committees and a National Council.
The Prime Minister noted that the functioning of Parliament has been paralyzed due to the weakening of Parliamentary powers by the 20th Amendment with the Executive receiving more powers.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said existing laws need to be strengthened in order to give those powers to Parliament in the exercise of monetary powers.
The Prime Minister said the oversight is done by three Committees, the Public Finance Committee, the Accounts Committee and the Committee on Public Enterprises, at present.
Premier Wickremesinghe said they are working to establish two new Committees on Monetary Affairs.
The Prime Minister said under Standing Order 111 he has proposed to appoint ten oversight committees.
The Premier said the five Finance Committees and the Ten Supervisory Committees will be appointed by backbenchers.
In another development, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said he will propose to appoint four youth representatives to each of the 15 new committees.
The Prime Minister added, “one of them will be appointed by the Youth Parliament.
The other three will be from the protesting groups and other activist groups. The methodology used to chose these individuals can be decided by the youth organizations themselves.”
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe also proposed the appointment of a National Council consisting of the Speaker, the Prime Minister and the leaders of the major parties in Parliament.
The Premier said the National Council can deliberate about the policies of the country and it will have the right to summon the Cabinet of Ministers and the Chairmen of Committees.
Premier Wickremesinghe said according to the new system they have proposed, the President, the Cabinet of Ministers and the National Council will be held accountable to Parliament.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said there is a system in place to control the government through the Cabinet, to examine the work of the President, to oversee the work of the political affairs through the National Council and to oversee the financial affairs and other matters of the other fifteen committees.
Therefore, the Prime Minister said they are working towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people and requested all factions to support the programme which will help resolve the country’s economic and political issues.
