Sri Lanka opposition boycotts parliament

COLOMBO - The main opposition in Sri Lanka Wednesday boycotted parliament, which was due to vote on proposed constitutional amendments that would boost powers of the president.

The United National Party said the amendments were undemocratic and accused the government of coercing opposition members into supporting the measures.

“The government is acting undemocratically by getting our members to vote in favour of the amendments. Some of them have been offered various positions in the government or threatened with initiating legal action against them where they could be taken into custody,” party general secretary Tissa Attanayaka said.

The amendments would extend the current term limit and allow President Mahinda Rajapaksa to run for a third term in 2016.

They would also give him additional executive powers regarding key government appointments.

The ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance needs 150 votes to adopt the proposals. It has 144 seats in the 225-seat legislature.

Pro-government demonstrators rallied outside parliament Wednesday in support of the president.