Sri Lankan court ruling could mean snap polls

Sri Lanka could be headed for a snap election after the Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government had to call a referendum if it wa...

Sri Lanka could be headed for a snap election after the Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government had to call a referendum if it wanted Constitutional changes to limit the President’s power to dissolve Parliament.

The government has already rejected the idea of a referendum and said it could go to the polls, which would delay a peace process that has brought about the first direct talks aimed at ending an ethnic war that has continued for seven years.

In a ruling read out by Parliament Speaker Joseph Michael Perera, the Court said changes to clip President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s powers had to be passed by two-thirds of Parliament ‘‘and approved by the people at a referendum’’.

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Kumaratunga is elected separately from the government and has been critical of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s efforts to end two decades of war with the (LTTE). There was no immediate comment from the government. Constitutional Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris said last week the government would consider an election if the Supreme Court ruled for a referendum. ‘‘The government is studying the judgment,’’ said spokesman Gairuka Perusinghe.

The Constitution gives Kumaratunga powers — to control the military and dissolve Parliament — that cannot be overridden without a two-thirds majority of Parliament, a total that even with coalition partners Ranil Wickremesinghe is falling far short of. (Reuters)

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