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Sri Lanka's parliament has voted to curb the power of the president, restoring a two-term limit for candidates, the BBC reported.

Former leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, who suffered a shock defeat in elections in January, had expanded his powers.

The amendment had been promised by his successor, Maithripala Sirisena.

Deputies also voted to remove the president's power to dissolve parliament until it has completed four-and-a-half years of its five-year term.

Before, the president had the power to sack parliament after only one year.

Mr Rajapaksa, whose brother Basil served as a minister for economic development, spent a decade in power.

He scrapped two-term limits for the president after he was re-elected in 2010, allowing him to stand a third time.

He also granted himself greater powers over the police, civil service and judiciary allowing him to appoint all the top judges.

President Sirisena was elected on a pledge to fight corruption.