President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has assured the Bar Association of Sri Lanka that his government will not exceed constitutional limits, while expressing willingness to accept political risks in pursuing reforms.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with representatives of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka on Tuesday to address concerns regarding the scope of executive authority and potential constitutional amendments. During the discussion, the President stated that neither his office nor any other government body would exercise powers beyond those prescribed in the Constitution.
The meeting focused on issues of constitutional governance and proposed reforms. Concerns had been raised about the potential for executive overreach and the possibility that constitutional changes could create circumstances requiring a president to relinquish office. The President responded to these concerns by emphasizing his commitment to constitutional limits, while simultaneously indicating his acceptance of personal political risk.
"I am a person who is ready to leave. I did not come here intending to remain seated," Dissanayake stated, according to Ada Derana. He further elaborated on his philosophy regarding political change, asserting that meaningful reform inherently involves risk and cannot be achieved without it. The President characterized his willingness to pursue necessary changes as a core aspect of his approach to governance, even if such efforts could ultimately affect his own position.
These remarks represent an attempt by the administration to reassure the legal community about adherence to constitutional principles while signaling its commitment to pursuing substantive policy changes and potential institutional reforms.
