Constitutional reforms to be further delayed

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 July 2010, 00:10 GMT]
The proposed constitutional reforms which was scheduled to be tabled in parliament this month is likely to be further delayed by one or more months according to media reports from Colombo. The proposed reforms are yet to be forwarded to Sri Lanka's Cabinet for approval, reports further said.

According to Lankadeepa, top priority has been given towards removing the clause in the constitution which limits an individual to a hold not more than two terms as president as defined by the following two subsections of articles 30 and 31 define the term of Sri Lanka's President's office:

30(2) The President of the Republic shall be elected by the people, and shall hold office for a term of six years.

31(2) No person who has been twice elected to the office of President by the People shall be qualified thereafter to be elected to such office by the People.

The report also claimed that the Attorney General’s Department is yet to complete the finalization of the proposed constitutional changes.

“Thus the amendments may likely be brought to parliament in only August or September this year,” the report added.

The proposed constitutional changes will also cover the areas of elections, local government and other identified areas for reform.

However, Colombo has still not made any announcement with regard to possible amendments, if any, covering a possible political solution for power sharing with Tamils.

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The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka