The 18th Amendment to the Constitution was passed in Parliament a short while ago with a two-third majority.
There was a total of 161 votes for the Amendment while only 17 MPs voted against, a majority of 144 votes. The Government received 11 more votes than the 150 votes required for a two-third majority.
Six UNP MPs earlier crossed over to the Government side and voted for the Amendment, defying a call by the UNP leadership to boycott the vote. The other UNP MPs were not present in the House at the time the vote was taken.
The 18th Amendment will abolish the two-term limit on the election of the Executive President, make it mandatory for the President to come to Parliament at least once every months and establish a Parliamentary Council comprising the Speaker, Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and two other nominees from Parliament, approved by the Parliament and, selected by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. Under the terms of the Amendment, the Elections Dept will come under the Elections Commission once it is established.