The President’s authority appears to be facing growing resistance, as a second attempt to appoint H.T.P. Chandana currently a Board Member of the Petroleum Corporation, as Auditor General has been shot down once again by the Constitutional Council. Despite the urgency of the post lying vacant for 42 days, the Council delivered a firm “no” with 5 votes against and only 3 in favor.
This marks the second consecutive day that the President’s nominee has been rejected, exposing deeper cracks within the decision-making machinery that connects the Executive with the oversight structures of governance. The Council met again today to reconsider the matter after failing to reach consensus in its previous sitting, but the outcome remained the same: a firm blockade against the President’s preferred candidate.
The standoff not only highlights the ongoing tug-of-war between the Executive and other arms of governance it also reflects a broader pattern of defiance within institutional checks and balances. Even a 2/3 majority in Parliament or control over local government institutions such as the Pradeshiya Sabhas seems increasingly insufficient when it comes to maneuvering within Sri Lanka’s evolving power architecture.
This isn’t the first time a President has faced such an institutional deadlock. Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe faced a similar roadblock when his appointment of Deshabandhu Tennakoon as Inspector General of Police was met with stiff resistance. In both cases, what unfolds is not merely a procedural hiccup but a broader political signal: the days of automatic rubber-stamping by constitutional bodies may be over.
As the office of Auditor General remains vacant, the stalemate continues to have practical consequences. With no independent head in place to oversee state audits and fiscal scrutiny, the delay has ramifications for financial accountability, especially in a nation navigating economic uncertainty and seeking transparency in public spending.
What remains to be seen is whether the President will yield, compromise, or attempt a third nomination, perhaps with a new name more palatable to the Council or push back harder in what is shaping up to be a constitutional power contest.
