Proposed #20Amendment to t #SriLanka constitution is without a doubt a mechanism to strengthen t Executive Presidency at t expense of t legislature. It bestows almost absolute power upon one individual; @GotabayaR. I have a series of questions if he wishes to answer.

Q1: Why did you Mr President @GotabayaR remove the limit of 30 Ministers and the limit of 40 State and of Deputy Minsiters?

Q2: Why did you Mr President @GotabayaR reduce from 14 days to 7 days; the duration between when a Bill is placed in the Order Paper in Parliament from and day it is published in the Gazette? The time was for citizens to study a Bill and object in Court if they wish to?

Why did you Mr President @GotabayaR remove the restriction of dual citizenship from running for the highest Office of this nation; that of President? Don’t you think conflicts of interest will arise if as President one was a citizen of both Lanka and the US? Say, SOFA?

Why did you Mr President @GotabayaR remove the power of the Elections Commission to hold accountable public officers (and in state owned media) who don’t comply with the ruling of the EC during elections? How does it improve t environment for a free n fair election?

Why did you Mr President @GotabayaR allow every state and deputy minister (besides cabinet as per 19th), which can now be any number, to function during the election period; upon dissolution of Parliament? How will that help in a free n fair election?

Why did you Mr President @GotabayaR remove the power of the Auditor General who now you appoint (as opposed to the CC earlier) to audit the Office of the Secretary to the President, which is really your office? How does that improve governance and transparency?

Why did you Mr President @GotabayaR remove the power of the Auditor General to audit companies of which the Government holds more than 50% of shares? We have seen so much corruption in several such places. How does it help governance n transparency?

Why did you Mr President @GotabayaR abolish Chapter XIX the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption? What is your logic behind that; and similarly the National Procurement Commission n the Audit Commission?

I am not at all convinced that any of the above changes you made to the Constitution strengthens democracy or rule of law or transparency. Mr President @GotabayaR can you tell us why you differ from this position?