The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was passed in Parliament today (21) with two-thirds majority. The Bill received 179 votes in favour and one vote against.
Colombo District SLPP MP Rear Admiral (Retd) Sarath Weerasekera was the sole MP who voted against the Bill. One of the key provisions in 22nd Amendment is disqualifying dual-citizens from contesting elections in Sri Lanka. A total of 45 MPs were absent.
The vote was originally to be taken at 5.30 p.m. yesterday but gotten delayed until 6.15 p.m. as the debate dragged on. The Bill was debated on Thursday and Friday and over 50 MPs spoke in the debate.
Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe presented the Bill entitled ‘Twenty Second Amendment to the Constitution’ to amend the Constitution on 10 August. The Supreme Court cleared the Bill on 6 September ruling that it could be adopted with a two-thirds majority in Parliament and some clauses requiring a nationwide referendum.
On the same day announcing the Supreme Court decision, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said the Bill could be adopted with a two-thirds majority in Parliament and a nationwide referendum on clauses 2 and 3 of the Bill that are inconsistent with the Constitution.
The Supreme Court recommended changes to help Parliament pass the Bill with only a special majority. The Bill aims to restore independent commissions and also curbs some of the powers of the president.