Sri Lanka President: ‘We will get together and bring in a new constitution’ 

Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says he wants a new constitution to replace the current one introduced in 1978 when the country changed to a presidential system.

The president’s remarks came as the new parliament opened its first session on Thursday.

He also vowed to abolish a controversial constitutional provision restricting his powers as he opened the new session following his Sri Lanka Podujana Party’s (SLPP) sweeping election victory this month.

The amendment was added by his predecessor, currently an SLPP MP, to reform Sri Lanka’s political system by reducing the ability of presidents to amass extensive powers.

The president also said in his policy speech that his government will abolish the 19th Amendment as a matter of priority and then work on the new constitution.

“Our constitution has been changed 19 times from 1978, creating a lot of uncertainties and confusion,” he told Parliament.

“Because the people have given us the mandate that we requested from them for a constitutional change, we will as a matter of priority be repealing the 19th Amendment as we promised the people,” he said.

“After that we will get together and bring in a new constitution that is requested by and needed for the country,” said the president.