COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Supreme Court has declared that the proposed 18th Amendment to the constitution is in accordance with the basic principles of the constitution and that it can be passed if it secures a two-thirds majority in parliament. The amendment abolishes the non-political independent commission set up under the 17th amendment to oversee state institutions and to make appointments to these institutions.

The measure increases the powers of parliament and the directly-elected executive president in determining appointments to high offices of the state. It removes the bar on a person contesting for the post of president more than twice.

Parliament Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa read out the apex court's determination in the house on Tuesday. Following this, Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne tabled the amendment. The opposition led by the United National Party (UNP) and the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) disrupted the proceedings for a while.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said his party would boycott the debate on the amendment. He had already said earlier that the UNP would vote against it.