Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka

[6]And by May 2013 then opposition political groups, diplomats and civil organizations like the People's Liberation Front or JVP, Jathika Hela Urumaya, Athuraliye Rathana Thero of Pivithuru Hetak National Movement,[7] and Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero had proposed to change the Constitution back to a Westminster style Parliamentary system[8][9] for the country to address various issues, especially the issues arisen by the 18th Amendment.

[10] The UNP had appointed a committee chaired by the Member of Parliament and former Bar Association President Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to draft the constitution.

This Constitution provided for a unicameral legislature named the National State Assembly with a term of office of 6 years and Sovereignty was entirely vested in it.

[18] J. R. Jayewardene who came to office in July 1977 with a five-sixths majority passed the second amendment to the 1972 Constitution on 4 October 1977 and then Prime Minister Jayawardene became the first Executive President of Sri Lanka on 4 February 1978.

[22] A panel of Supreme Court Judges led by Chief Justice K. Sri Pavan started to consider the petitions on 4 March 2015.

While presenting his submissions, the Attorney General told the court that the 19th Amendment could be passed with a two-thirds majority in Parliament without calling for a referendum.

A special political party leaders meeting in connection with the proposed debate was presided over by the Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa at the Parliament complex on 6 April 2015.

However, Chief Government Whip and Minister Lakshman Kiriella said participants of the political party leaders’ meeting agreed to pass the 19th Amendment after it is debated on 9 and 10 April.

On 9 April 2015, the petitions were considered and the amendment was reviewed by a panel of Supreme Court Judges led by Chief Justice K. Sri Pavan and determined that it was consistent with the Constitution.

While presenting his submissions, the Attorney General told the court that the 19th Amendment could be passed with a two-thirds majority in Parliament without calling for a referendum.

[28] The Sri Lankan government had to change the bill several times in a bid to get the backing of parliamentary opposition parties and amended the relevant clauses and removed the sections that need a referendum before presenting it to parliament.