Constitutionalism Reforms in Sri Lanka: A Case Study of Past, Present & Future

The constitution is meant to protect that self in its dignity and worth. The prime function of constitutional political order has been and is being accomplished by means of the system of regularized imposed upon those who wield political power (Friedrich,1946). A constitution can be interpreted as a document including deep concepts, theories, value systems & identities that give a country authority and legitimacy, framed by consensus in a way that reflects the aspirations of the people in every country. A constitution is a guide and advisor in the governing process of a government. Solebury’s constitution was introduced in 1947 in the study of Sri Lanka’s constitution-making history. But it is a constitution given to Sri Lanka by the British, not a constitution created in Sri Lanka. In 1972, Sri Lanka’s first national constitution was drafted. The constitution was drafted with the participation of a constitution-making body led by Colvin R.de Silva. After that, in 1978, the second republic government constitution was introduced and since then, twenty amendments have been implemented for the constitution. Therefore, this article can try to understand mainly past, present and future norms and changes in constitutionalism in Sri Lanka with the concept of constitutionalism