The Ethno-political Polarization Scenario in Sri Lanka’s Presidential Election held in November 2019: A Critical View
- January 30, 2020
- Posted by: RSIS
- Categories: IJRISS, Political Science
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue I, January 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186
Dr. T. Krishnamohan
Senior Lecturer in Political Science, Department of Social Sciences, Eastern University, Sri Lanka
Abstract: Under the nineteenth amendment to the constitution of Sri Lanka, the president himself cannot dissolve the parliament until the completion of four and a half years. Under these circumstances, the president may look to strengthen his powers. Mahinda Rajapaksa pointed out that the nineteenth amendment of the constitution, which the Sri Lankan parliament passed just after he lost his presidency in 2015, has reduced the powers of the president’s office. The nineteenth amendment of the constitution strengthened the prime minister’s role, re-established a two-term limit on the presidency, and reinforced independent commissions like on human rights, police, the judiciary, and civil services. Regarding the nineteenth amendment of the constitution, two different types of opinions were formulated. Many people welcomed the end of the all-powerful executive presidency. Some of the others have criticized that the nineteenth amendment of the constitution, by dividing executive powers between the president and prime minister, produced an ineffective and confused government. But Mahinda Rajapaksa’s opinion hinted strongly that the SLPP would push for the parliament to revoke the amendment and re-concentrate powers in the presidency. If a strong presidential system is re-established that it would come at the sacrifice of the independence that the judiciary and police have enjoyed since 2015. A last-minute agreement between the SLFP and the SLPP saved them from the political destruction. The result of the presidential election underlined the beginning of the SLPP as the most powerful political party in the country at the sacrifice of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). Both the SLFP and the UNP tolerated weakening setbacks with their leadership in panic. The SLPP will further strengthen its position at the forthcoming parliamentary polls.
Key words: Nineteenth Amendment, Presidential Election, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, National Democratic Front, Gotabaya Rajapaksa
I. INTRODUCTION
According to the nineteenth amendment to the constitution enacted in 2015, which trims the powers of the presidency, the prime minister couldn’t be removed without a referendum. In terms of the nineteenth amendment, the prime minister has to resign or continue to serve in that position as long as the cabinet continues. Even if the president was elected by the people, according to the nineteenth amendment to the constitution, the president’s power is curtailed.
