The Cabinet of Ministers could not come to a final decision on the draft 20 th Amendment due to opposition of minor political parties regarding the number of seats in the new parliament.

The new electoral system envisages a 255 member parliament with members elected by a mixed electoral system. Cabinet Ministers from minority parties argued that the new system will be disadvantageous to the minor parties.

However, President Sirisena then requested that they support the amendment while assuring further alterations of the bill to resolve the issues.

It was decided to entrust President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe the task of deciding the manner in which the government should proceed with the 20th Amendment.