President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the present Constitutional Council will better ensure supremacy of Parliament as it will comprise only of Members of Parliament. He said there will not be a Presidential representative in the proposed Council unlike the 10-member Council stipulated in the 17th Amendment.

Addressing media heads and publishers at Temple Trees today (September 06), the President pointed out that the five-member Council will have the Speaker, Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and two other nominees from Members of Parliament and approved by Parliament. In the event an opposition member is elected as Speaker, the majority control of the Council could fall into opposition hands.

“This will ensure supremacy of Parliament and in fact the proposed 18th Amendment will dilute some of the powers of the Executive President,” he said. Answering questions raised by journalists, President Rajapaksa dismissed the notion that the government is rushing through the 18th Amendment without consultations. “We have consulted the Members of Parliament, both of the ruling alliance and the main opposition party, and others too. In fact we have incorporated some amendments suggested by the opposition and in the Cabinet”.

He said that a section of UNP MPs urged the government to take effective action as the present Constitutional Council under the 17th Amendment had led to administrative deadlock. They wanted the near anarchic situation caused by the 17th Amendment to be changed.

President Rajapaksa said that the next presidential candidate will be decided by the Party and the final powers to elect any person as President will rest with the people. “This amendment will further strengthen the sovereignty of the people”.

When asked whether Mr. Namal Rajapaksa will succeed him as President, he replied that there were no short cuts to leaderships. It took 40 years for me to come to this position. I was elected to Parliament when I was 23. Even he may have to wait as long. The Presidency is not a 50 meter or 100 meter dash. It is a marathon. This is the advice I give to all aspiring to political power. Those who take shortcuts will end up in failure.

President Rajapaksa said when the Presidency is limited to two terms, he or she could become indifferent to people's wishes during the second term as the President would not face an election after the second term. “That could affect one’s mentality in a way as to waiver in commitment,” he said. “When one is aware that he/she will have to go to the people once gain, it will further enhance one’s commitment to the people and that is good for the people and the country”.