Sri Lanka unveils proposals for constitutional reforms

Sri Lanka on Tuesday formally released a set of proposals for key constitutional changes which were this week approved by the cabinet.

The Government information department said the gazette notification on the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was published by the state printer on the instructions of the government.

The notification will be open for public recommendations and will be produced to the parliament for approval before it becomes law.

The key constitutional amendment was part of the election manifesto of President Maithripala Sirisena who took office in January this year.

Ahead of the January election, Sirisena said the president will cease to be the head of state and instead the government will be under a prime minister.

However, the gazette notification seen by Xinhua notes that the president will be the executive leader, head of state, head of the cabinet and commander in chief.

The president will also serve only a five year term and not the current six and no person who has been twice elected to the office of president, shall be qualified thereafter to be elected to such office by the people.

"The president shall be responsible to parliament for the due exercise, performance and discharge of his or her powers, duties and functions under the constitution and any written law, including the law for the time being relating to public security," the gazette notification added.

The proposals were made following talks between the president and his coalition partners including the United National Party led by current prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Endi