Sri Lanka today took exception to the statement made by United States regarding the passage of the 18th Amendment by the Parliament last Wednesday. The 18th amendment to the Constitution was voted in the Sri Lankan parliament last week by more than the mandatory two third majority . It removed the bar on the two term limit of the President and granted the incumbent more power over appointments to the police, judiciary, public service and electoral commissions. The Sri Lankan External affairs Ministry in a press statement stated that the passage of the Amendment is an entirely internal matter and that it was done in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. It further stated that the Amendment was passed in total compliance with a unanimous decision of the Supreme Court, with an overwhelming majority of 161 votes in 225 member House . It added that a situation had arisen of attempts covering successive administrations and spanning a period of several years, to operationalize under the provisions of the 17th Amendment several key institutions of governance, having palpably failed. The Ministry maintained that 18th Amendment resolves this situation, by introducing the necessary constitutional clarity. It revives the functioning of the Commissions sought to be covered by the 17th Amendment through a Parliamentary Council which importantly provides by the inclusion of Members of Parliament, for the salutary principle of accountability to the people, the Release said. The United States had condemned Sri Lanka's passage of a constitutional amendment granting the president vast new powers, saying it undermined democracy. “The United States is concerned that this constitutional amendment weakens checks and balances and thus undermines the principles of constitutional democracy,” State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said in a statement.Crowley called on Rajapaksa's government to take steps to strengthen independent institutions, increase transparency and promote national reconciliation.