Sri Lanka It's Happening

April 15, 2004

Before the elections the UPFA said they will change the country's constitution with our without the required two thirds majority. As we all know in most countries of the world this 2/3 majority is required to protect against law makers changin a 2/3 majority is needed to change the constition according to the whims and fancies.

The Sri Lankan constitution makes it very difficult for a single party to achieve this majority therefore the UPFA said they will change it with a simple majority, which is unconstitutional. Even though the UPFA didn't get 50% of the votes (they managed only 46%) and even though they don't have even a simple majority in parliament, they have announced their intention to go ahead with the change.

This is a dangerous precedent because this virtually gives them a free hand to do just about anything that they please.

It looks as if 46% of the country's voters have voted away the right to vote in the future. Not just their right but everyone elses too.

Posted by raditha at April 15, 2004 3:21 AM