Cabinet agrees to implement 13A – President

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the All Party Leaders' Conference on Reconciliation that the Cabinet was agreeable to fully implementing 13th Amendment, until the Party Leaders decide whether or not to abolish the Amendment.This was reported by the President's Media Division on Friday (27).President Ranil Wickremesinghe had said that he is bound to implement the existing law in accordance with the executive powers of the President.He had said further that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution is being implemented accordingly or the Parliament should abolish the 13th amendment.The President Wickremesinghe also pointed out that any parliamentarian could move a private member’s bill to abolish the 13th Amendment to the constitution and the same amendment would have to be implemented provided that the bill was voted against by the majority of the House.The President stressed that he was not ready to divide the country.President Wickremesinghe made these remarks at the All-Party Conference, which was held at the President's Office on Thursday (26) evening.The statement made by the President is as follows:It is my responsibility as the Executive to carry out the current law.

For approximately 37 years, the 13th Amendment has been a part of the constitution. I must implement or someone has to abolish it by way of a 22nd amendment to the constitution by moving a private member’s bill.

If the bill was voted against by the majority in the House, then the 13th amendment would have to be implemented.“We can’t remain in a middle position saying that either we don’t implement the 13th amendment or abolish it,” President Ranil Wickremesinghe said.I’m acting in accordance with the decision.