Sri Lanka, June 27 -- In what was a startling and eye-opening statement President Maithripala Sirisena this week criticised the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, saying that it created political instability and suggested that it should be repealed.

The President's sentiments were expressed at the 40th-anniversary celebrations of the National Housing Development Authority in Colombo on Sunday, in the presence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa.

The President emphasised the fact that the 19th Amendment created two centres of power within the government, leading to instability. "With the Presidency and Premiership pulling in different directions and without a si...