Today evening will see Sri Lanka’s much debated position “The Executive Presidency” given further more powers  via the 18th amendment.

It is now clearly evident,  the government the key advocator of the 18th amendment will easily ride home when voting takes place this evening to pass the latest amendments.

Center for Policy Alternatives, a Colombo based think tank says “There are two substantive elements to the Eighteenth Amendment”.

It adds “The first is the abolition of term limits on the executive presidency”.

The second point it says is the “negation of restraints on presidential power established by the 17th amendment”.

CPA citing the importance of having term limits to hold the Presidential office says “The imposition of term limits is a characteristics feature of a presidential system”.

It adds the term limit prevents constitutional dictatorship by disallowing one person to hold office in perpetuity, even subject to periodic democratic elections.

The Center for policy alternatives says negation of restrains on Presidential powers established by the 17th amendments was aimed at De-politicizing key areas of governance.

HELPLESS OPPOSITION

Meanwhile the main opposition United National Party is not taking part in the ongoing parliamentary debate on the 18th amendment and instead is holding a protest campaign in Colombo today against the governments latest move.

However some of its Parliamentarians have decided to back the government’s moves to amend the constitution, which is expected to create further cracks in the party.

UNP MP’s such as Lakshman Seneviratne, Earl Gunasekra, Abdul Cader, Manusha Nanayakkara and Upeksha Swarnamali are the ones who has already confirmed their support.

www.news.lk reported that 157 mps will vote in favor of the 18th amendment.

HISTORY

Since the establishment of the Executive Presidency in the late 1970’s, many parties including the Sri Lanka Freedom Party which is President Rajapaksa’s political party wanted to abolish the position.

However those who eagerly wanted the Executive Presidency removed at one time will vote in favour of  it today while the UNP who created this powerful position, opposes its expansion.

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