Sri Lanka parliament approves constitutional reforms with two-third majority

Sri Lankan parliament on Wednesday approved the proposed 18th Amendment to the country's Constitution with a two-third majority, paving the way for the immensely popular President Mahinda Rajapaksa to seek reelection for a third term.
The amendment was passed with 161 votes in favor and 17 against it in the 225-mmeber parliament. This is the first time a Sri Lankan government had two-third majority in the parliament since 1977.
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the proposed constitutional amendments are consistent with the Constitution and can be approved with a two-third majority in the parliament without holding a referendum.
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) boycotted the debate and the party members were not present in the House during voting.
Ahead of the voting this evening six UNP legislators crossed over to the government expressing their support to the proposed constitutional amendments.
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), an ally of the opposition, decided to support the amendments earlier.
During the debate today SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem told the parliament today that his party will lend maximum support to the government to pass the 18th constitutional amendment.
Meanwhile, the Tamil National Alliance Digamadulla parliamentarian H. A. Piyasena has also decided to vote with the government for the 18th amendment today.
Crossed-over UNP MP Earl Gunasekara said that a stable government will help to revolutionize the country's economy and this amendment has carefully prepared to fulfill this aspiration.
The 18th amendment removes the term limits on Executive Presidency allowing the President to run for a third term.
The main opposition United National Party (UNP) has criticized the proposed change as a move to strengthen the powers of the President but the President recently said his powers would actually be "diluted" by the amendment.
The 18th amendment among other reforms proposes the appointment of a parliamentary council instead of the Constitutional Council born out of the 17th amendment that decides the appointment of independent posts like commissioners of election, human rights and Supreme Court judges.
Critics of the 18th amendment say the proposed parliamentary council has no powers and the President would have more powers over many independent institutions, seriously impacting the justice, free elections, and human rights.