Lanka SC favours Rajapaksa's third-term amendment
Clearing the way for Mahinda Rajapaksa to run for a third term, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has ruled that the proposed amendment to end a two-term limit for the president can be enacted with a two-thirds parliamentary majority.
Rajapaksa, who in January this year won a second six year term in office, has proposed to end a two-term limit for the president.
The Supreme court ruled that the proposed 18th amendment is consistent with the Constitution and does not need a referendum, but a two thirds majority in the house to be passed, Speaker of the parliament, Chamala Rajapaksa, said today.
The cabinet had approved the Constitutional Reforms Bill last week, and the draft bill will be debated in the parliament tomorrow.
The key amendment is expected to be passed tomorrow as the government appears to have the requisite two-third support in Parliament, with the backing of some opposition MPs.
Rajapaksa, who is under fire from the opposition over the amendment to remove the two-term limit, has said the proposed legislation would in fact "dilute" his powers.
"This will ensure supremacy of Parliament and in fact the proposed 18th Amendment will dilute some of the powers of the Executive President," he told media heads and publishers during an interaction at his residence.
Rajapaksa, 64, also dismissed the notion that the government is rushing through the amendment without consultations, amid growing criticism from the opposition and sections of the media.
He said the Constitutional Council under the 18th amendment will ensure supremacy of Parliament in a better way as the panel will comprise only MPs.
The five-member Council will have the Speaker, Prime Minister, opposition Leader and two other nominees by the MPs and would have to be approved by the Parliament.
There will not be a Presidential representative in the proposed Council unlike a 10-member body stipulated in the 17th Amendment, he said.
In the event of an opposition member getting elected as Speaker, the majority control of the Council could fall into opposition hands, an official release quoted him as saying.
Rajapaksa said the next presidential candidate will be decided by his Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the final powers to elect any person as President will rest with the people. "This amendment will further strengthen the sovereignty of the people."
Asked whether his eldest son Namal Rajapaksa will succeed him as President, he replied that there were no shortcuts to leaderships.
"It took 40 years for me to come to this position. I was elected to Parliament when I was 23. Even he may have to wait as long. The Presidency is not a 50-metre or 100-metre dash. It is a marathon. This is the advice I give to all those aspiring for political power. Those who take shortcuts will end up in failure," Rajapaksa said.
He said when the Presidency is limited to two terms, the incumbent may become indifferent to people's wishes during the second term as he or she would not be facing another election.
"That could affect one's mentality in a way as to waiver in commitment," Rajapaksa said. "When one is aware that he/she will have to go to the people once again, it will further enhance one's commitment to the people and that is good for the people and the country."
