Sri Lankan parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly adopted a key amendment to restore a two-term limit on presidents and ensure independence of the judiciary and police, reversing changes made by former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The 19th amendment (19A) received 215 votes in favour with just one vote against it in the 225-member assembly. The amendment was introduced after last week’s disruption of parliament by supporters of former president Rajapaksa, who had accumulated large powers during his nearly decade-long presidency and removed the two-term limit on presidents.
The vote came at the end of a hectic 2-day debate after President Maithripala Sirisena kicked off the discussion. There were serious doubts to Sirisena’s ability to win 150 votes of two thirds majority till evening as his government does not enjoy a majority in the parliament.