The government had decided to make several amendments to the Constitution following a meeting of leaders of constituent parties of the governing United People's Freesom Alliance (UPFA).
During the meeting National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader and Minister Wimal Weerawansa had proposed the introduction of provision for the President to take part in parliamentary proceedings periodically. The proposal had been accepted unanimously.
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa has reportedly said that the President's participation in parliamentary proceedings will be similar to the British question-time model.
Minister Rajapaksa has said that while in the British model, the Prime Minister has its own question time that gives the MPs the opportunity to raise issues, in the proposed Sri Lankan model it would give both government and opposition parliamentarians the opportunity to ask the President questions on any issue and obtain answers.
The exercise is expected to not only strengthen democracy but also Parliament.
Another constitutional amendment is the removal of a provision that restricts the term of a President to two terms.
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