Sri Lanka Parliament amended the constitution to reduce the power of Executive President and to put into place a Constitutional Council for making key government appoints. The final vote on the 19th Amendment of the Constitution was taken after the Committee stage of the legislative process last night. Two hundred and twelve Members of Parliament voted in favour while only one parliamentarian opposed the reform bill.
The reforms ensure an independent judiciary, checks President’s power to dissolve the parliament and reduces the term of the President from 6 to 5 years. The Amended Constitution will now put into place several independent commissions that will function outside the influence of the Executive. President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickeramasinghe called it a historic day for the country.