Sri Lanka President Dissanayake Backs New Constitution, End of Executive Presidency

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has reaffirmed his government's commitment to abolish the country's executive presidential system, saying the change will come through a new Constitution based on broad public and political support rather than a rushed constitutional amendment.

The President made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of an alliance of six Tamil and Muslim political parties at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on Monday. He said constitutional reform remains a key promise of his government and that an inclusive national dialogue will begin before any major changes are introduced.

According to the President's Office, the government wants to build a national consensus instead of moving ahead with quick amendments. Dissanayake said the aim is to ensure that constitutional reforms reflect the views of all communities.

His statement comes after recent reports suggested that abolishing the executive presidency was no longer an immediate priority as the government focused on economic recovery. By restating the pledge, Dissanayake signalled that the proposal remains part of the ruling National People's Power (NPP) agenda, although no timeline has been announced.

During the meeting, the Tamil and Muslim alliance called for a new Constitution, long delayed provincial council elections, greater power sharing, protection of land rights, attention to issues in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and measures to address the concerns of Tamils of Indian origin.

Responding to the demand for provincial council elections, Dissanayake said a Parliamentary Select Committee is examining issues related to holding the polls and that he plans to discuss the matter with the committee before taking the next steps.

The promise to abolish the executive presidency has been part of the NPP's election platform. Supporters say the move would strengthen Parliament and create a better balance between the executive, legislature and judiciary. However, constitutional reforms will require broad parliamentary support, and the government has not yet released a draft Constitution or introduced legislation to begin the process. Analysts note that several previous governments made similar promises but did not carry them through, making the progress of the current administration closely watched.