Sri Lanka Supreme Court approves amendments to Constitution

Paving the way for the current President Mahinda Rajapaksa to seek reelection for a third term, Sri Lanka's apex court has ruled that the proposed constitutional amendments are consistent with the country's Constitution and can be approved with a two-third majority in the parliament , the Speaker announced today to the House.
The Speaker, Chamal Rajapaksa said the Supreme Court has approved the proposed 18th amendment to the Constitution and ruled that a referendum is not needed, but requires a two-third majority for the amendments to be enacted.
Following Article 122 of the Constitution, Supreme Court delivered its decision on the amendments to the President and the Speaker last week after they were presented to the Court following the approval by the Cabinet of Ministers.
The 18th amendment removes the term limits on Executive Presidency allowing the President to run for a third term.
The opposition 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.
"This will ensure supremacy of Parliament and in fact the proposed 18th Amendment will dilute some of the powers of the Executive President," the President told the media recently.
The President has said that when the presidency is limited to two terms, the incumbent could become indifferent to people's wishes during the second term as he or she would not face an election at the end of the term.
"That could affect one's mentality in a way as to waiver in commitment," he said.
When a candidate has to face the people again, it will enhance his or her commitment to the people, the President pointed out.
The amendment makes it mandatory for the President to appear in Parliament once in three months.
The 18th amendment also proposes the appointment of a five-member Parliamentary Council in place of the Constitutional Council specified by the 17th Amendment.
Following today's announcement by the Speaker, the Draft Bill will be presented tomorrow to the legislature by Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne for debate. The legislature will vote on the bill after the debate at the end of day's proceedings.
The ruling alliance is confident of passing the Bill with a two-third majority in the 225-member parliament with at least 160 votes in favor.