Sri Lanka’s parliament voted to implement the 19th Amendment of the Sri Lankan constitution to curb the powers of the executive presidency, after strong resistance from a section of the SLFP forced the government to compromise on the make-up of the proposed Constitutional Council.
The amendment reintroduces a two-term limit for the president and restores independent bodies to manage institutions such as the police and judiciary, whilst also removing the president’s power to dissolve parliament until it has completed four and a half years of its five year term.
212 MPs, including Namal Rajapaksa, Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Wimal Weerawansa, voted for the amendment, while ten MPs, including former Premier D.M. Jayaratne and Basil Rajapaksa, were absent.
The 19th Amendment was watered down to ensure that former ruling alliance supported the vote.
Speaking after the passing of the amendment, Sri Lanka’s prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe said,
“This is not ideal. We had to compromise because we don’t have a two thirds majority on our own. After the next election, we can have more reforms. We can turn the next parliament into a constituent assembly and adopt a (brand new) constitution.”
The SLFP faction supportive of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa launched several attempts to scupper the passing of the bill. Amendments proposed by the party were initially opposed by the minority-government, but they were forced to compromise to ensure the passing of the bill.
The government, supported by the TNA and the SLMC, opposed the appointment of politicians to the Constitutional Council arguing it should be made up of professionals. However the SLFP said parliamentary powers could not be given to unelected individuals and forced an amendment so the council, which will recommend appointments to independent commissions, would comprise of four MPs and three professionals, in addition to the prime minister, the speaker and the opposition leader.
“The SLFP is opposing this provision that allows the appointment of professionals to the Constitutional Council because outsiders cannot be given Parliament’s powers,” Minister T.B. Ekanayake said.
UPFA MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage said the UNP was trying to put ‘NGO-wallahs’ into the Constitutional Council, the Daily FT reported.
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