1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka

E220761

The 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka is the country’s current supreme law that introduced a strong executive presidency and restructured the political system following the earlier republican constitution.

All labels observed (3)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (52)

Predicate Object
instanceOf national constitution
supreme law
adoptedBy unicameral Parliament of Sri Lanka
surface form: Parliament of Sri Lanka
adoptedOn 1978-09-07
alsoKnownAs 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
surface form: Second Republican Constitution of Sri Lanka
amendedBy 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka
17th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka
18th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka
19th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka
20th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka
21st Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka
First Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka
Second Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka
cameIntoForceOn 1978-09-07
country Sri Lanka
declares Buddhism to have foremost place
sovereignty of the people
definesState Sri Lanka
surface form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
draftedUnder J. R. Jayewardene
establishes executive presidency
semi-presidential system
unicameral Parliament of Sri Lanka
establishesBody Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka
Election Commission
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka
National Police Commission
Provincial Councils
Public Service Commission
Supreme Court of Ceylon
surface form: Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
establishesOffice Cabinet of Ministers
Constitutional Council
President of Sri Lanka
Prime Minister of Ceylon
surface form: Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
guarantees equality before the law
freedom of association
freedom of peaceful assembly
freedom of religion
freedom of speech
freedom of thought
languagePolicy English as link language
Sinhala as official language
Tamil as official language (after 13th Amendment)
legalSystem unitary state
numberOfArticles over 170
numberOfChapters 23
precededBy 1972 republican constitution of Sri Lanka
surface form: 1972 Constitution of Sri Lanka

1972 republican constitution of Sri Lanka
surface form: First Republican Constitution of Sri Lanka
providesFor directive principles of state policy
fundamental rights
requires referendum for certain entrenched provisions
special majority for constitutional amendments
succeeded Soulbury Constitution

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (14)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

1972 republican constitution of Sri Lanka repealedBy 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
subject surface form: 1972 Republican Constitution of Sri Lanka
unicameral Parliament of Sri Lanka reconstitutedBy 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
subject surface form: Parliament of Sri Lanka
unicameral Parliament of Sri Lanka governingDocument 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
subject surface form: Parliament of Sri Lanka
this entity surface form: Constitution of Sri Lanka
Sinhala Only policy relatedTo 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
Government of Sri Lanka constitutionalDocument 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
this entity surface form: Constitution of Sri Lanka
President of Sri Lanka legalFoundation 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
this entity surface form: Constitution of Sri Lanka
National State Assembly successorConstitution 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka alsoKnownAs 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
this entity surface form: Second Republican Constitution of Sri Lanka
J. R. Jayewardene (as Prime Minister in 1977) oversaw 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
subject surface form: J. R. Jayewardene
Southern Provincial Council subjectTo 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
this entity surface form: Constitution of Sri Lanka
Governor of Southern Province legalBasis 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
this entity surface form: Constitution of Sri Lanka
Eastern Provincial Council constitutionalBasis 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
this entity surface form: Constitution of Sri Lanka
Chief Minister of Eastern Province legalBasis 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
this entity surface form: Constitution of Sri Lanka
Chief Minister of Northern Province subordinateTo 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka
this entity surface form: Constitution of Sri Lanka