News

Conflict left in Sri Lanka constitution to avoid referendum

Published

2 years ago

2024/06/16

ECONOMYNEXT –The 19th Amendment created a conflict in Sri Lanka’s constitution, but it remained unresolved because the then government was determined to avoid a referendum.

The deficiency in the constitution was highlighted in a report by EconomyNext on Tuesday and later taken up during a government meeting at the highest levels, sources familiar with the issue said.

The constitutional error, which has persisted since April 2015, could allow an incumbent president to extend his term by less than a year without facing a referendum.

Former legislator and President’s Counsel Jayampathy Wickramaratne said the brief from the then government was to come up with a bill for a 19th Amendment which could be passed without a referendum.

“As a member of the team that drafted the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, I wish to make a clarification,” Wickramaratne said, adding that they were aware of the issue.

“The government had clearly advised the drafting team that the Nineteenth Amendment Bill should be passed only by a two-thirds majority, in keeping with the pledge of presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena… that no amendment necessitating a referendum would be placed before Parliament.

“As such, the draft did not propose reducing the maximum period from six to five years,” he said, referring to an Article which should have been amended to read “five years” instead of the original “six years.”

Article 83, which was an entrenched provision, could not have been amended without a referendum, and therefore they left Article 83(b) untouched.It leaves an ambiguity at best and a loophole at worst.

Even changing a full stop or a comma in the constitution requires a two-thirds majority in parliament and in some cases requires endorsement at a national referendum.Political sources said there had been polemic invective directed at those behind the 19th Amendment when the government discussed the issue on Tuesday.

While all references to the six-year terms of both the president and parliament were changed to five years in line with the 19th Amendment, Article 83(b) was left untouched, giving President Ranil Wickremesinghe a loophole to extend his term.

Any bill to extend the five-year term of the president or parliament requires approval in parliament with a two-thirds majority, followed by endorsement at a referendum.

However, under Article 83(b), such a referendum is required only if the bill extends the term to over six (6) years, not five (5) years as it should have been.

This means that, in theory, President Wickremesinghe could extend his own term and that of parliament by 11 months and 29 days without breaching the constitution.

See the full report on this here: https://economynext.com/constitutional-error-could-give-ranil-and-parliament-another-year-167442/

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Old Anandian Hostellers ‘Big Match Dinner ’26 on Saturday

Published

3 mins ago

2026/02/24

Sahan Weerasooriya

The annual ‘Big Match Dinner’ organised by the Ananda College Old Hostellers Guild will be held on Saturday February 28 at the Solis Hotel, Pita-Kotte from 6.00 pm onwards.

Music will be provided by Sri Lanka Army Rock Band.

For more information contact Amila (07725488097), Kapila (0777357669) or Kalinga (0777335094)

News

Prime Minister Attends the 40th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Nippon Educational and Cultural Centre

Published

12 hours ago

2026/02/23

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya attended the special ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Nippon Educational and Cultural Centre (SNECC), along with the 75th birthday of its Secretary General, the Chief Incumbent of Sri Mahindaramaya, Ethul Kotte, the Chief Sangha Nayake of the Western Province, and scholar Ven. Meegahathenna Chandrasiri Thero.

The primary objective of the event was to appreciate the service rendered by the Sri Lanka Nippon Educational and Cultural Centre, which has functioned as a bridge between Japan and Sri Lanka since 1986, contributing significantly to the development and welfare of children in Sri Lanka.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister stated that the social service carried out by Ven. Meegahathenna Chandrasiri Thero through the Nippon Centre, aimed at fulfilling the educational aspirations of Sri Lankan children, is highly commendable. She further emphasized that the Centre’s contribution to nurturing skilled children into disciplined and responsible citizens, as well as strengthening cultural ties between the two countries, is appreciated by the Government.

Over the past four decades, thousands of students have benefited from the “Nippon Scholarship” programme implemented by the Centre. In addition to providing school supplies, monthly financial assistance, medical support, and spectacles, the programme offers Japanese language education and guidance for employment and training opportunities in Japan for Sri Lankan youth. Annual study tours to Japan and collaborative programmes organized to enhance mutual understanding between students of the two countries were also highlighted at the event.

Marking this special occasion, the Prime Minister extended her best wishes to Ven. Meegahathenna Chandrasiri Thero on his 75th birthday and wished him continued strength to successfully carry forward this invaluable service.

The event was attended by the Mayor of Kotte, Arosha Atapattu, representatives of sponsoring organizations from Japan, scholarship recipients, and other distinguished guests.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Navy’s latest addition P 628 sails for Colombo from Baltimore

Published

12 hours ago

2026/02/23

Priyan

The Offshore Patrol Vessel P 628, which was formally handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy by the U.S. Coast Guard in December 2025, departed for Sri Lanka from Baltimore, United States on 20th February 2026. The home bound journey began, after the modernization work of the ship to suit the operational needs of the Sri Lanka Navy.

The EX-United States Coast Guard Cutter, USCGC Decisive was officially handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy on 02 Dec 25, as the latest addition to the SLN fleet under the Pennant Number P 628. Upon her arrival in Sri Lanka, the ship is scheduled to be formally commissioned into the fleet.

Measuring 64 metres in length, this ‘B-Type Reliance Class 210-foot Cutter’ is equipped with advanced technological systems and facilities, capable of conducting extensive surveillance operations spanning up to 6,000 nautical miles per patrol.

The vessel’s voyage to Colombo is historic, possibly marking the longest-ever passage undertaken by a Sri Lanka Navy ship. Covering approximately 14,775 nautical miles, the journey will see the P 628 navigate from Baltimore through the Atlantic Ocean, the Panama Canal (a first for a Sri Lankan naval vessel), the Pacific Ocean, and into the Indian Ocean via the Straits of Malacca. The ship is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka during the first week of May 2026.

During the transit, the P 628 is scheduled to make port calls to replenish supplies and services, providing opportunities to further strengthen diplomatic ties with partner nations.

This transfer represents the fourth vessel provided to the Sri Lanka Navy by the United States Coast Guard, reinforcing a long-standing partnership aimed at addressing common maritime challenges.