Bill curbing Sri Lankan President’s powers tabled

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday presented the draft of a key constitutional amendment — which seeks to prune presidential powers — to the Sri Lankan Parliament.

Part of the reforms promised by newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena, the draft bill for the 19th amendment was tabled in Parliament after it received Cabinet approval on March 15.

The draft Bill envisages converting the current presidential form of government to a presidential-parliamentary system. It prunes presidential powers and proposes a two-term limit for the President. In effect, it seeks to restore the Sri Lankan Constitution’s 17th amendment, rendered void in 2010 when President Mahinda Rajapaksa was in power.

Mr. Sirisena, who unseated Mr. Rajapaksa in the January 8 presidential polls, was elected largely based on his promises to carry out reforms, including the abolition of executive presidency.

Chandrika to head taskforce Meanwhile, President Sirisena announced the appointment of a Special Presidential Task Force under former President Chandrika Kumaratunga to address the issues of minorities, particularly the Tamils.

According to political sources in Colombo, the taskforce includes senior academics, civil society members and activists to study various issues facing the war-torn regions in the island’s North and East.