President Mahinda Rajapaksa called the special Cabinet session today to decide on the constitutional amendments to be presented as a Bill to the parliament.
Following the Cabinet meeting the draft of the proposed amendments is to be presented to the Supreme Court for its recommendations.
According to Sri Lanka's Constitution, the President should present the Bill, endorsed by the Cabinet as urgent in national interest, to the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court to determine whether the Bill or any provision of it is inconsistent with the Constitution. At the same time, a copy of the Bill will be delivered to the Speaker.
The Bill is not to be gazetted at least seven days before it is placed on the Order Paper of Parliament as required under Article 78.
According to the Constitution, the Supreme Court has to make its determination within a maximum of three days after assembling of the Court, and to communicate its decision only to the President and the Speaker.
The proposed amendments seek a third term for the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The ruling alliance, enjoying the support of over 154 members of the 225-member parliament, is strongly confident that the Bill will be breezed through the legislature.
The government got a boost in power to secure the needed two-third majority for constitutional changes when the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, a constituent partner in the opposition alliance, last week decided to support the government.
All government parliamentarians are requested to cancel their other engagements and attend the parliamentary sessions when the Bill is presented.
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