September 2 - 9

Sri Lanka's Parliament voted to eliminate term limits for the president.
The amendment also will tighten President Mahinda Rajapaksa's hold on power by giving him total control over the judiciary, police and the civil service.

The main opposition group, the United National Party, boycotted the vote and burned an effigy of Rajapaksa at a protest in the capital.

But the constitutional amendment passed easily, with 161 votes in the 225-member Parliament. That's 11 votes more than the two-thirds majority required. Seventeen MP's voted against it.


Six United National Party members and one member from the Tamil National Alliance voted with the government.

The amendment also scrapped a provision requiring the president to receive the approval of independent commissions in appointing officials to the judiciary, police, public service and the elections office.

Opposition supporters held protests in some parts of capital, but were outnumbered by government supporters.

Foreign Minister GL Peiris told parliament: "Political instability is the last thing we want in Sri Lanka as we seek to derive the fullest benefit for our people from the unique opportunity we have today having eradicated terrorism."

The visiting Indian Army Chief, General Vijay Kumar Singh paid a courtesy call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees. President Rajapaksa and General Singh discussed issues related to military and security affairs that related to both countries. Army Chief explained that the intention of his visit is to strengthen the military ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Army Chief presented the President with a memento to mark the occasion. Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Lt General Jagath Jayasuriya and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga were present during the discussions.

Indian Army Chief also paid a courtesy call to Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa this morning. They had a discussion on matters of bilateral interests at the Secretary’s office and exchanged plaques to mark the occasion.

Indian Army Chief is also scheduled to pay tribute to the War Heroe’s Monument at Parliament grounds in Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte.

General V.K. Singh PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC, Chief of Army Staff, Indian Army, along with a high-level Army delegation, arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday afternoon, 5th September for a five day visit in an effort to boost the defence ties between India and Sri Lanka. Indian delegation also included Mrs Bharti Singh, President, Army Wives Welfare Association, Major General Harminderjit Singh Sachdev SM, General Officer Commanding, Infantry Division, Brigadier Jatinder Pal Singh, Military Assistant and Mrs Aravinder Kaur.

The next local government election that is scheduled to be held January next year. According to the proposal approved by the Cabinet. Sri Lanka Local Government Minister M. L. A. M.Athaullah tabled the draft proposal in the cabinet meeting Thursday with President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the chair.

Members to local authorities will be elected on ward system and also on proportional representation system.

The candidate polling the highest number of votes in a ward of a local government authority is elected under the old electoral system.

Local authority members will be nominated under the proportional representation system on the total number of votes polled by a political party or independent group.