NOC criticizes tabling of draft 20th amendment in Parliament

COLOMBO (News1st): The National Organizations Collective has criticized the move to table the draft 20th amendment in parliament, by disregarding the report of a committee that studied it. "When the committee was appointed we were told that the necessary changes would be made," Dr Gunadasa Amarasekara, a member of the movement said on Thursday. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had appointed a nine-member committee to study the draft 20th amendment that was submitted in Parliament recently. Kalyananda Thiranagama, a member of the movement insisted that the report of this committee must be revealed to the people. "...there is suspicion as to whether they (the government) are trying to hide or cover up something," he told reporters during a media conference. The provision allowing dual citizens to contest parliamentary elections was heavily criticized during the media briefing. "Can the secrets of the cabinet be protected? Will foreign spies be appointed to our cabinet?" he queried. Dr Wasantha Bandara, an executive committee member of the National Organizations Collective, voiced objection against the provision that would bar the National Audit Office to conduct an audit on state bodies. "If this provision is removed, we can go to court and prevent the MCC agreement from being signed," he said. Bandara stressed that the government received the public mandate to introduce a new constitution and not to bring back the 18th amendment.