Sri Lanka Cabinet approves constitutional reform to limit president’s powers

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved constitutional reforms aimed at clipping the powers of the presidency amid months of protests demanding the ouster of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for dragging the nation’s economy into an unprecedented crisis.

In October 2020, less than a year after becoming the president, Gotabaya, with the help of his elder brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, had moved the 20th amendment in parliament, which gave the presidency sweeping powers.

The changes then allowed the president to hold ministries as well as appoint and fire ministers. It also made the president the appointing authority of the elections, public service, police, human rights, and bribery or corruption investigation commissions.

Sri Lanka has been ruled under a powerful executive presidential system since 1978, but a reformist government in 2015 clipped much of the president’s powers and gave them over to the parliament and independent commissions, saying successive presidents had been more authoritarian.

The endorsement is a step in what could be a protracted process to amend the sections of the constitution that gave sweeping powers to Rajapaksa’s office.

A draft of the so-called 21st amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution gives some powers back to the parliament and restores independence to commissions in key decision-making.

The amendment will be sent to the legal draftsman and the attorney general for observations about its compatibility with the constitution, Cabinet spokesman Bandula Gunawardena said Tuesday (June 21).

“The 21 amendment was tabled and passed in cabinet today,” tourism minister Harin Fernando said in a tweet, adding that the proposal will now be sent to the country’s parliament where it needs the votes of two-thirds of its members.

Sri Lanka fell into default for the first time in its history last month as the government has struggled to halt an economic meltdown that prompted mass protests and a political crisis.

While side-stepping calls for his resignation, Rajapaksa has tried to contain anger toward him and his family by agreeing to the constitutional amendments.

The Sri Lanka Bar Association has questioned the extent to which the amendments will scale back the powers Rajapaksa gave to his office shortly after he returned to power in 2019.

“The latest amendments will improve good governance, which is part of the International Monetary Fun (IMF), other lender requirements and the international view,” Gunawardena said.

“It will help with the IMF negotiations.”

Sri Lankan authorities on Monday began talks with the IMF, working toward an agreement that could offer creditors enough comfort to lend fresh funds to the bankrupt nation that’s seeking US$6 billion (S$8 billion) in coming months.

Sri Lanka’s opposition leader Sajith Premadasa has said his party will boycott Parliament this week and hold street protests against the government.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES