Leftist parties in Sri Lanka's ruling coalition oppose proposed constitutional amendments

May 22,  Leftist allies of Sri Lanka's governing United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) have decided to submit a separate set of proposals for constitutional amendments that will propose abolishing the Executive Presidency among other reforms.

Common Left Front, the leftist alliance of Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), Sri Lanka Communist Party (SLCP) and the Democratic Left Front (DLF) plans to hold a seminar at the National Library Association Auditorium on May 31 to discuss its proposals, Daily Mirror reported.
The leftist parties oppose the government's proposal to extend the two term limit for an Executive President to hold office in Sri Lanka in line with the Constitution.
DLF Leader and parliamentarian Vasudeva Nanayakkara had told the Sri Lankan daily yesterday (21) that the Common Left Front would propose the setting up of the post of an Executive Prime Minister to replace the Executive Presidency.
"The Common Left Front expects to come to a consensus and finalize its proposals for amending the constitution and electoral reforms the government intends to submit to parliament shortly," Nanayakkara has said.
According to SLCP Leader, Minister D.E.W. Gunasekara Common Left Front would submit its own proposals to the proposed constitutional amendments as the alliance is not comfortable with the constitutional amendments that have been proposed regarding the appointment of the Constitutional Council and the 17th and 13th amendments.
Meanwhile the LSSP has also said the party could not agree with some of the proposed amendments and expected to submit its own proposals that will strengthen democracy, transparency, and good governance