The Ethno-political Polarization Scenario in Sri Lanka’s Presidential Election held in November 2019: A Critical View

Under the nineteenth amendment to the constitution of Sri Lanka, the president himself cannot dissolve the parliament until the completion of four and a half years. Under these circumstances, the president may look to strengthen his powers. Mahinda Rajapaksa pointed out that the nineteenth amendment of the constitution, which the Sri Lankan parliament passed just after he lost his presidency in 2015, has reduced the powers of the president’s office. The nineteenth amendment of the constitution strengthened the prime minister’s role, re-established a two-term limit on the presidency, and reinforced independent commissions like on human rights, police, the judiciary, and civil services. Regarding the nineteenth amendment of the constitution, two different types of opinions were formulated. Many people welcomed the end of the all-powerful executive presidency. Some of the others have criticized that the nineteenth amendment of the constitution, by dividing executive powers between the president and prime minister, produced an ineffective and confused government. But Mahinda Rajapaksa’s opinion hinted strongly that the SLPP would push for the parliament to revoke the amendment and re-concentrate powers in the presidency. If a strong presidential system is re-established that it would come at the sacrifice of the independence that the judiciary and police have enjoyed since 2015. A last-minute agreement between the SLFP and the SLPP saved them from the political destruction. The result of the presidential election underlined the beginning of the SLPP as the most powerful political party in the country at the sacrifice of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). Both the SLFP and the UNP tolerated weakening setbacks with their leadership in panic. The SLPP will further strengthen its position at the forthcoming parliamentary polls.