Issues in relation to which referendums are mandatory at the national level

The constitution provides for mandatory referendum for Bills amending, repealing or replacing the specific articles within the Constitution, as follows:

- Article 1 – The State

- Article 2 – Unitary State

- Article 3 – Sovereignty of the People

- Article 6 – The National Flag

- Article 7 – The National Anthem

- Article 8 – The National Day

- Article 9 – Buddhism

- Article 10 – Freedom of thought, Conscience and Religion

- Article 11 – Freedom from Torture

- Article 30(2) – Election of President by the people and the term of his office

- Article 62(2) – Term of Parliament and its dissolution

Constitutionof the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Adoptedin 1978, last amended in 2001)

http://www.priu.gov.lk/Cons/1978Constitution/Chapter_12_Amd.html

(Mandatory referendum)

CHAPTERXII , Approval of certain Bills at Referendum, Article 83.

Notwithstandinganything to the contrary in the pro?visions of Article 82—

(a)a Bill for the amendment or for the repeal and replacement of or which isinconsistent with any of the provisions of Articles 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and11, or of this Article, and

(b)a Bill for the amendment or for the repeal and replacement of or which isinconsistent with the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 30 or of paragraph(2) of Article 62 which would extend the term of office of the President or theduration of Parliament, as the case may be, to over six years,

shallbecome law if the number of votes cast in favour thereof amounts to not lessthan two-thirds of the whole number of Members (including those not present),is approved by the People at a Referendum and a certificate is endorsed thereonby the President in accordance with Article 80.

Not all constitutional amendments require mandatory referendum. See source for details.