Setback to Lanka govt plan to scale back presidential powers

The new Sri Lankan government's plan for swift adoption of a key amendment to prune the powers of the president received a setback today when the Supreme Court ruled that some of its key sections must be approved by a public referendum.
The apex court after considering the petitions filed in support of and against the 19th amendment to the Constitution, had sent its verdict to the Speaker of parliament, and said that the president should retain the power to appoint and remove ministers.
The 19th amendment would establish independent commissions to depoliticise key governance instruments.
Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa today said that although the Supreme Court had termed the amendment to be consistent with the Constitution, some sections need a referendum while the rest can be approved by two-thirds majority.

The court had sent its ruling to the speaker on April 7.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe while responding on behalf of the government said he intends dropping at the committee stage all sections which require a referendum.

The 19A was to be moved today for debate in parliament. It sought to prune powers of the president while conferring them on the prime minister-headed cabinet form of government.
The government expected that no referendum will be required to adopt the 19A. The intention when formulating the draft amendment was to get it passed in parliament without going for a referendum.
To hold the presidency accountable to parliament was a main pledge by President Maithripala Sirisena while in opposition when he challenged his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa in the January 9 presidential election.

However, after the elections, some sections within Sirisena's supporters have expressed opposition to presidential powers being conferred on the prime minister.
Among the provisions which require a referendum are the one that makes prime minister the head of the cabinet, prime minister determining the number of cabinet ministers, and the prime minister deciding on the subjects of the ministers.