A group of Sri Lankan lawyers , carrying a coffin stage a protest march against the proposed amendments to the island nation � s constitution A group of Sri Lankan lawyers , carrying a coffin stage a protest march against the proposed amendments to the island nation � s constitution opposite the superior courts complex in Colombo 7 September 2010 . These lawyers , sympathetic to the opposition in parliament protested the 18 th amendment to the Republican constitution promulgated in 1978 by former president J . R . Jayewardene when United national Party enjoyed a 5 / 6 th majority in parliament . It created an executive presidency with near unlimited powers but enabling one person to hold office only for two terms of six years each . Any amendment needs a two - thirds majority in parliament and / or a referendum . However after president Jayewardene all presidents vowed to abolish the post but were not successful as no government enjoyed a 2 / 3 majority . The incumbent government elected this year was a few seats short of the required majority and has successfully engineered crossovers from the opposition to reach the magical mark and has brought in several amendments to be debated in parliament . EPA / M . A . PUSHPA KUMARA EPA / M . A . PUSHPA KUMARA < 뉴스 의 새 시대 , 연합뉴스 Live > < 모바일 애플리케이션 > < 포토 매거진 >< 저작권자 ( c ) 연합뉴스 . 무단 전재 - 재배 포금 지 . >