Sri Lanka’s business chamber welcomes Constitutional amendments but cautious about committee stage amendments

Apr 30, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Ceylon Chamber of Commerce welcomes the enactment of the 19thAmendment to the Constitution, to improve democratic ideals but cautions that the committee stage amendments to increase the number of Parliamentarians in the composition of the Constitutional Council has the potential to compromise its independence. In a statement Ceylon Chamber of Commerce says, “That the original clause would have served the interests of the country and its people better than the one on which the President, Prime Minister and the Government were finally forced to compromise on.” The Chamber recognizes the enactment of 19A, as a very important and a positive step taken; especially the inclusion of provisions related to; repealing of the 18th amendment, Constitutional Council, Independent Commissions and recognition of the Right to Information as a fundamental right of citizens.