In a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday, the Asian Human Rights Commission said, " a significant constitutional deadlock has existed in Sri Lanka during the last few months due to the non-appointment of members to the Constitution Council of Sri Lanka (CCSL)".

AHRC points out that the CCSL is unable to appoint commissioners to head commissions under the 17th amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution.

Elections Commission

The 17th amendment accepted in parliament in 2001 the president cannot appoint any members to seven commissions including the elections commission.

Recalling that the elections commissioner Dayananda Dissanayaka requested to retire while announcing the victory of President Rajapaksa , the AHRC points out that the commissioner's wish cannot be granted until the election commission is appointed by the CCSL.

The Constitutional Council is the only constitutional body that can replace the elections commissioner.

Police Commission

AHRC also say points out that the non - appointment to the National Police Commission also has hindered reforms in the police service.

It says,"the existing policing system poses a grave threat to the rule of law in the country".

Therefore, it calls upon the president to, "ensure that the Constitutional Council be appointed as soon as possible so that the important constitutional role of all the commissions created under the 17th Amendment, in particular the National Police Commission, will be able to function without disruption".