The Sri Lankan parliament passed the 18th Amendment to the Constitution with more than two thirds majority with 161 voting for and 17 against it in a house of 225 members, a short while ago.Last minute cross overs from the main opposition party United National Party (UNP) and support lent by eight member Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) ensured a smooth sailing for the controversial bill.Earlier in the day the island nation’s Prime Minister presented the 18th Amendment bill to the parliament , which among other changes sought to remove the barrier for the incumbent President to seek a third term for the office.Besides the parliamentarians of the ruling combine, the rebels from the opposition group, members of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) were present in parliament.The main opposition party UNP that had boycotted the debate and voting on the bill staged a protest outside. The ruling combine on its part held a counter demonstration in support of the bill.Participating in the debate the former Army Chief and DNA leader Sarath Fonseka warned that by the proposed amendments to the Constitution the Government was paving way for a military coup.The island nation’s Supreme Court in its opinion has held that the proposed amendments to the Constitution by the Government were not inconsistent with the existing statute and that a referendum is not required to bring about these changes. The Supreme Court held that any changes to the Constitution have to be passed by two third majority of the 225 member of the Parliament.In the last parliamentary general election the ruling UPFA won a near two third majority of 144 seats.Mahinda Rajapaksa was re-elected in the January Presidential election riding on the popularity wave of winning the war against the LTTE and will remain in office till November 2016.AIR correspondent reports, the 18th Amendment is now a reality, paving way for the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to seek a third term though the next Presidential election is due only in November 2016.Passed by two thirds majority in the Parliament , thanks to a number of crossovers from the opposition benches , the amendment has removed the two term restrictions on the President to contest election .The main opposition party UNP stayed out of the debate and voting in protest against the bill.Political observers have criticised this move of the government for not taking on board views of the Opposition parties and other stakeholders in bringing about this major change in the ConstitutionThey are also of the opinion that this move will make Rajapaksa more autocratic as these amendments also give President greater control over nominally independent institutions, giving him powers to appoint officials to key posts in the judiciary, police, election commission and central bank.Rajapaksa’s supporters argue that the changes will ensure stability as the nation recovers from 37 years of conflict.Thousands of pro-government supporters today gathered in Colombo blocking roads around the parliament and brandishing posters saying “We need a strong president.”The beleagured opposition has been able to do little barring symbolic demonstrations.As an editorial in a local English daily observed the onus is now on all powerful President Rajapaksa to act with self-restraint.