Sri Lanka’s government rammed through parliament on Wednesday key constitutional changes entrenching the autocratic powers of President Mahinda Rajapakse, enabling him to run for office indefinitely and handing him considerable control over the judiciary, police, election commission and central bank.
The entire process of passing the constitutional amendment was anti-democratic. At no time was the bill disclosed to the public. Instead, the cabinet approved the amendment on August 31. After just a one-day hearing, the Supreme Court informed the parliamentary speaker that the bill was “consistent with the constitution”. Presented as an “urgent bill,” parliament had only one day to debate and vote on the amendment. More...
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