Constitutional experts point out that the 21st Amendment to the Constitution has not abolished the power of the President to take over ministries and retain ministries not vested in another person.
Earlier, the 19th Amendment abolished the powers of the President to retain or take over other ministries. However, the 20th Amendment gave the President arbitrary powers, and the proposed 21st Amendment enabled him to maintain those powers further.
Wijedasa Rajapaksa, as the Minister of Justice, introduced the 19th Amendment Bill in Parliament and was a supporter of the 20th Amendment. Subsequently, he, as the current Minister of Justice, presented the 21st Amendment to Parliament.
