Two term presidency to remain in new 20th Amendment:

• inclusion of fresh clauses which will be beneficial to country
• strengthening of independent commissions
• inclusion of clauses from the 18th and 19th amendments 

By JAMILA HUSAIN  

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has informed those drafting the new constitution which will be presented to Parliament next month, to include the two term limit for a President in Office in the 20th amendment as well as to strengthen the clauses to keep commissions independent, the Daily Mirror learns.   

A senior government source said that despite rumors that the two term limit for a President to contest would be scrapped in the new 20th amendment, President Rajapaksa had insisted to keep this clause.   

He will soon discuss the new amendments with his cabinet after which it will be presented to Parliament and passed in September.”This clause will remain along with clauses to strengthen the independent commissions. During the previous government, although commissions were made independent under the 19th amendment, these commissions were weak and had a lot of political interference. The President now wants to see these commissions function independently,” the government source said.  

According to the new government, the new amendment will include clauses from the 18th and 19th amendment as well and fresh clauses which will be beneficial to the country.  
Newly appointed Water Supply and Drainage Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara told the media recently that the possibility of the President seeking more than two terms in office through the new constitution has not been ruled out.   

• Will be presented to Parliament and passed in September