The Pitfalls & Challenges Waiting For Maithri & Ranil

By Saliya Pieris –August 23, 2015

Saliya Pieris

As Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe begin a new term of cohabitation they need to lesrn lessons from the past and take into account the new balance of power brought about by the 19th amendment and the results of the Parliamentary elections.

The reality is that the new regime has two power centres. The President continues to wield executive power and remains at the helm of government, although no longer constitutionally entitled to hold cabinet portfolios, except for Defence, Mahaweli and the Environment. The Prime Minister effectively controls Parliament and will actually run the administration.

Although President Sirisena may be bound by the advice of the Prime Minister in making ministerial appointments there is no doubt that the new Cabinet will be a product of consensus and compromise between the President and Prime Minister. As in other periods of cohabitation between the President and Prime Minister such as in 1994, 2001-2004, the President and the Prime Minister will have to effectively share power in the next few years.

While there has been talk on further constitutional change and the total abolition of the executive presidency, any further move to dilute the Presidency is unlikely to be welcomed by the President’s camp. The reality is that the UNP will have to learn to work with the President within the present framework. Any attempt to reduce the President’s powers any further will not be conducive to the rapport which should exist between the President and the Prime Minister.Read More