Key 19th amendment on hold amid chaos in Sri Lankan parliament

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka today delayed debate on the contentious 19th amendment - aimed at abolishing executive presidency - following uproar in the parliament by opposition members over summons to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa by country's anti-graft commission.

"The 19th Amendment will be taken up for debate on April 27th and 28th and a vote will be taken on the 28th," Lakshman Kiriella, the Leader of the House said.

The debate on the contentious 19th amendment was to begin today but was delayed after the parliament was adjourned until April 27.

The decision to postpone the debate was arrived following an emergency party leaders meeting with the President Maithripala Sirisena after opposition members created a ruckus in the house over summons to Rajapaksa by the country's anti-graft commission to give a statement on his alleged breaking of election laws.

Sirisena had pledged greater democratic reforms in his election manifesto as the opposition unity candidate.

The proposed 19th amendment could see the restoration of independent commissions and restoration of powers to the judiciary, apart from stripping the president of some of his executive powers while bringing back a two-term presidential limit.

Rajapaksa had removed the two-term limit on the presidency that allowed him to contest for a third-term.

The country's Supreme Court has already determined that the 19th amendment is consistent with the Constitution but certain sections require a referendum.

The government had amended the relevant clauses and removed the sections that need a referendum before presenting it to the parliament again.

The parliament is expected to be dissolved after the passage of the 19th amendment. Sri Lankan President has said that he plans to dissolve the parliament in May paving way for general elections in late June or early July.