October 19, Colombo (LNW): The National People’s Power (NPP) administration is reportedly exploring the possibility of conducting a nationwide referendum in 2028, according to information attributed to internal sources.
The proposed vote is said to centre on two major constitutional questions: whether Sri Lanka should abolish the executive presidency and whether the tenure of the present Parliament should be extended by a further five years. If pursued, the initiative could spark considerable public debate over the country’s political structure and the future of its democratic institutions.
Sources familiar with the discussions have also indicated that government representatives have held talks with diplomatic officials from a neighbouring country concerning the reported proposal. However, the details of these exchanges and the government’s final position on the matter have not been publicly established.
Sri Lanka has held only one nationwide referendum to date. That vote took place in 1982 under the administration of then-President J.R. Jayewardene, who sought public approval to extend the life of the existing Parliament by six years without holding a general election.
If the reported 2028 initiative moves forward, it would mark another significant moment in Sri Lanka’s constitutional history, potentially placing questions about executive power and parliamentary tenure at the centre of national political debate.
