Sri Lanka to draft legislation to abolish Executive Presidency, improve electoral system

Nov 19, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka plans to draft legislations to abolish the Executive Presidency and to transfer the powers to the Parliament while introducing a more democratic electoral system, the cabinet spokesman told reporters today. Powers of the Executive Presidency could not be reduced as was expected earlier by the 19th amendment to the constitution and promised by the election manifesto for the Presidential Election 2015 because the Supreme Court has decided that such an amendment would require a referendum. Discussions on amending the electoral system could not be concluded with an agreement. Hence, the proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena to draft legislations to abolish the Executive Presidency and to amend the electoral system considering the aspirations of other political parties and public organizations, was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. The Cabinet of Ministers also decided that a Cabinet Subcommittee presided by the Prime Minister should be appointed for making recommendations on the method and constitutional amendments in this regard.