ADRN Issue Briefing

Strengthening the presidency, weakening democracy:

A brief analysis of the Twentieth Amendment

to the Constitution of Sri Lanka

Verité Research

A Member of the Asia Democracy Research Network

The Enactment of the Twentieth Amendment –

Sri Lanka’s Democracy Takes A Huge Leap Backwards

The enactment of the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka (20A), a reversal of its precedent 19A at large, is a worrisome development hinting at the potential demise of democratic values. The new constitution bolsters the power of the executive president while undermining the power of all other institutions, virtually tearing down the system of checks and balances. Verité Research, a Sri Lankan ADRN member, outlines how the enactment of 20A marks a backtracking for Sri Lanka in its road towards democracy. It asserts that not only has 20A repealed the efforts of 19A to democratize and depoliticize governance, but has also obscured the transparency of the government and eliminated its accountability.

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