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US Condemns Sri Lanka
Constitutional Amendment
The United States on Saturday condemned Sri
Lanka's passage of a constitutional amendment
granting the president new powers, saying it
undermined democracy. Sri Lanka's parliament on
Wednesday voted for the measure sought by
President Mahinda Rajapaksa. It eliminates
presidential term limits and grants the
president more power over appointments to the
police, judiciary, public service and electoral
commissions. U.S. State Department spokesman P.J.
Crowley called on Mr. Rajapaksa's government to
take steps to strengthen independent
institutions, increase transparency and promote
national reconciliation.
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The government
argued the constitutional change was justified
to give Mr. Rajapaksa time to build Sri Lanka's
economy after a long civil war with Tamil Tiger
separatists. Mr. Rajapaksa is now eligible to
run in 2016 for a third presidential term.
Opposition and rights groups criticized the
measure as a blow to democracy and a step toward
dictatorship by Mr. Rajapaksa. Critics also
accuse him of stifling dissent, jailing
opponents and disregarding the rule of law as he
holds an office with almost unchecked control of
the government.
