Presidential powers curbed
SRI LANKA’S parliament last Friday (21) passed a constitutional amendment aimed at trimming presidential powers, beefing up anti-corruption safeguards and helping to find a way out of the country’s worst financial crisis ever.
Sri Lanka has struggled to find dollars to pay for essential imports such as fuel, food, cooking gas and medicine.
Many blame former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa for implementing multiple failed policies including tax cuts, a now-reversed ban on chemical fertilisers and delays in seeking IMF assistance that resulted in the country defaulting on its foreign debt for the first time in history.
Rajapaksa resigned in July after protesters stormed his office and residence.
“This amendment will not only help bring about the system change demanded by Sri Lankans it will also help in securing an IMF programme and other international assistance to rebuild the economy,” justice minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe told parliament. In September, Sri Lanka signed a deal with the IMF for a loan of $2.9 billion (£2.5bn).