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Constitutional changes ready
The government is going ahead with draft amendments to change the Constitution to scrap the executive presidency, introduce electoral reforms and set up several independent commissions.

An advisory committee headed by Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and tasked with formulating draft amendments has completed its job. The draft, The Sunday Times learns, has taken into consideration some provisions of a draft constitution formulated in 2000 as well as the present constitution.

Government sources said the move to abolish the executive presidency was in accordance with the pledge made in the election manifesto of the UPFA. They said the proposals would be discussed with party leaders, religious leaders and organisations representing civil society before being presented in parliament.

The other members of the Committee are R.K.W. Goonesekera, a senior lawyer and legal academic, Nihal Jayamanne P.C., K. Balapatabendi P.C., M.M. Zuhair P.C., Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne P.C., Prof. Lakshman Marasinghe, Professor Emeritus, University of Windsor, Canada, Prof. Ranjith Amarasinghe, Prof. Laksiri Fernando and Nigel Hatch and Dr. Sivaji Felix.

PM hints of third term for CBK
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse has said the constitution could be changed if parliament so decides and President Chandrika Kumaratunga could continue for a third term.

"We are a democracy and if parliament gives approval for changing the constitution, we will do that. If the parties want her and if the parties approve of the changes, she will be president for another term," he told Mohammed A. R. Galadari of the Dubai-based Khaleej Times.

Asked whether he was vying for the leadership when President Kumaratunga completes her second term, he said there was no such problem, and no question that she was number one and he number two.

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