The whole set of proposals are aimed at the strengthening the post of executive president. Previously, President Rajapakse promised that he would abolish the post of executive president at the end of his first term. Now he wants to remove all the fetters that are in place to check the seemingly unrestricted and absolute powers of the president.

Prominent among these are the abolishing of the 17th amendment to the constitution in its substance. The main feature of the 17th amendment is setting up of a constitutional council which is entrusted to nominate members to the Elections Commission, Public Service Commission, National Police Commission, National Human Rights Commission, Commission to Investigate Bribery and Corruption, for the posts of the Chief Justice and other judges of the superior courts, and the Auditor General. Under the proposed amendments, it has been proposed to transfer this power again to the president and he would then consult the Prime Minister, the Speaker, and the Leader of the Opposition in making these appointments only if he wishes to do so.

In the general election held in April this year, the ruling party appealed for a two thirds majority in the parliament for the purpose of amending the constitution. However, they never hinted that they were going to strengthen the office of the president instead of abolishing it.

The USP has expressed its vehement opposition to these proposed amendments and has called on the government to withdraw them, as the government has no mandate from the people for such a course of action. At the same time, it has called on all the political parties and other groups – especially trade union movement to build a campaign for democracy, which is being systematically undermined by the Rajapakse regime.    

United Socialist Party
Sri Lanka