20A Amidst COVID-19

What a set of (mis) priorities?

- Ranga Jayasuriya

It takes an extra dose of cavalierness to bulldoze through Parliament a Constitutional Amendment intended for personal aggrandizement while the rest of the country is perilously close to a second wave of the novel coronavirus, better known as COVID-19.

More so, when the earlier assessments of the reach of the virus appear to be questionable and political rooting of success seems to be premature. Doctors warn of running out of hospital beds, even before any potential mass spread makes its dent. (The 13 main hospitals designated to treat COVID-19 patients, had only 168 available capacity on October 15).

Yet, the government is forging ahead with the controversial 20th Amendment. It will be debated in Parliament for two days starting from tomorrow (21). The Supreme Court determination on the 20A will be read by the Speaker today. Earlier, the Sunday Times reported that the Supreme Court had held four-to-one, that four clauses of the Bill needed the approval of the people at a Referendum, while the rest can be approved by a special majority in Parliament.

The 20A was drafted in secrecy. Government’s spin doctors had argued that the public had elected the Rajapaksas to abolish the 19th Amendment, and implying as if they have the prerogative to replace it with anything of their likening. This is the Sri Lankan version of ‘One man, one vote, one time only.’

The 20A undermines the separation of power within the government and creates an imperial President at the expense of the legislator and independent institutions. It would have repercussions not limited to the tenure of the current administration, but for many generations to come.