Sri Lanka bill to trim president’s powers likely to become law soon: Minister
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said on Monday a constitutional amendment bill trimming presidential powers is expected to become law in a couple of weeks.
“The new amendment will reduce presidential powers and bring back participatory governance,” Sabry told reporters at the foreign ministry.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
The bill, which will require a two-thirds majority in the house to become law, was proposed to help shore up stability and defuse unrest provoked by the country’s worst financial crisis in decades.
The crisis came to a head in July when then president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was accused of economic mismanagement, fled the country and resigned, replaced by Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The proposed amendment would establish a constitutional council and nine independent commissions to improve governance. The commissions would work to promote human rights, increase oversight of government agencies and bolster anti-graft investigations.
Sabry said Sri Lanka was also in the process of drafting a new anti-terror law that will be in line with international best practices.
Ahead of a United Nations Human Rights Council session starting next week, Sabry said Sri Lanka would oppose any international attempt to gather evidence of alleged rights violations during the country’s fight against the Tamil Tiger militants.
“Our stance is very clear. We are a vibrant participant in the international community and intend to discuss with all bilateral and multilateral partners,” he said. But any “external mechanism we are not agreeable to because our Constitution does not allow that.”
Sri Lanka ended a 25-year civil war between separatist insurgents from the ethnic Tamil minority and government forces in 2009. Rights groups accused both sides of abuses during the war.
Read more: Sri Lanka’s ousted president gets residence, security on return: Officials
-
Sri Lanka’s ousted president gets residence, security on return: Officials
Sri Lanka’s ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was provided on Saturday with an official residence and security by the government after he returned ... World News -
IMF provisionally agrees on $2.9 billion loan for crisis-hit Sri Lanka
Crisis-hit Sri Lanka has reached a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a loan of about $2.9 billion, the ... Economy -
Sri Lanka inflation hits 64.3 percent in August on costlier fuel
Sri Lanka’s headline inflation climbed to a fresh record in August, although the spike is unlikely to force the central bank to resume tightening ... Economy -
Sri Lanka frees politician who called judges corrupt
An outspoken Sri Lankan politician imprisoned last year for accusing the island nation’s judges of corruption was released Friday after a presidential ... World News -
Chinese military survey ship leaves Sri Lanka after controversial visit
A Chinese military survey ship that docked at Sri Lanka's Chinese-built port of Hambantota despite opposition from neighboring India left on Monday ... World News -
Sri Lanka widens import ban as economic crisis persists
Sri Lanka tightened import restrictions Wednesday with a ban on more than 300 additional items, as an economic crisis that has created months of ... World News -
Sri Lanka police fire tear gas to disperse first protest after state of emergency
Sri Lanka police fired tear gas and water cannon on a small protest Thursday to break up the first demonstration since the crisis-hit island nation ... World News