Article Author:
Associated Press
Krishan Francis
Colombo, Sri Lanka (AP) — A Sri Lankan government minister on Wednesday introduced a constitutional amendment bill to parliament that would limit the president's powers. , a major demand of the protesters for political reform and solutions to the country's worst economic crisis. He introduced a bill transferring some presidential powers to the Constitutional Council, including the power to appoint investigators. A member of parliament and a respected non-politician. The council then recommends candidates for these appointments for the president to choose from.
Under the proposed amendment, the President would also appoint a Chief Justice, other senior judges, the Attorney General, and the Governor of the Central Bank on the recommendation of the Council. can only appoint. The prime minister recommends appointments to the cabinet, and the president is not allowed to hold ministerial posts other than defense.
The bill will be debated, but must be approved by his two-thirds of Sri Lanka's 225 MPs to become law.
If passed, the amendment would restore the democratic reforms of 2015. Gotabayarajapaksa, who was ousted as president last month by angry protests, overturned those reforms and centralized his power into himself after being elected president in 2019.
Rajapaksa's successor, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, has promised to limit the president's powers and strengthen parliament at protesters' demands.
Sri Lankans have held mass street protests over the past four months demanding democratic reforms and a solution to the country's economic collapse.
Protesters blame the poor management and corruption of the Rajapaksa family for an economic crisis that has led to severe shortages of essential commodities such as medicines, food and fuel.
The island nation is negotiating a rescue program with the International Monetary Fund.
The protests dismantled the Rajapaksa political dynasty that had ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to Singapore last month after angry protesters stormed his official residence and took over several key state buildings. His older brother Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as prime minister in his May, and three other close relatives resigned from ministerial positions before him.
