As this article is being penned the 18^th Amendment to Sri Lanka’s constitution and its general effect of creating an absolute ruler for life is a fait accompli, baring the final coup de grace of the foregone Parliament vote. From the numbers in Parliament elected under proportional representation, it is clear that the balance of political and social forces is in favor of creating an absolute ruler. The push to increase and centralize power is neither new nor unusual in human or Sri Lankan political history. We can examine some lessons from history, ancient and modern, to understand our current phenomena of the 18^th Amendment.

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