President calls for Constitutional and electoral reforms

Changes to the existing Constitution are essential in order to safeguard the security, sovereignty, stability and integrity of the country," President Gotabaya Rajapaksa told Parliament.  

By Sandun Jayawardena

Changes to the existing Constitution are essential in order to safeguard the security, sovereignty, stability and integrity of the country," President Gotabaya Rajapaksa told Parliament. 

Making his policy statement at the inauguration of the fourth session of the eighth Parliament, Mr Rajapaksa pointed out that the success of a democracy rests upon its Constitution. "The 1978 Constitution, which has since been amended on 19 occasions, has given rise to many problems at the present time because of its inherent ambiguities and confusions," he stated. 

Mr Rajapaksa also called for reforms to the electoral system while preserving the positive characteristics of the proportional representation system. He noted that such reforms are necessary to "ensure the stability of the Parliament and to ensure the direct representation of the people."

"Even though elections can be won through numbers, an unstable Parliament that cannot take clear decisions and remains constantly under the influence of extremism is not one that suits the country," the President elaborated. 

He further said the problem could be solved through constitutional reforms "that will establish a strong executive, legislature and an independent judiciary that can ensure the sovereignty of the people."

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