"Senior General Min Aung Hlaing today has opportunities to secure a unique legacy: to be the Commander-in-Chief whose courage enabled his army to break free of the shackles of the past," Mr Swire said in a speech at the British Council on Strand Road.

"The 2008 Constitution can be amended only with the support of the Tatmadaw," he said.

"This gives the Tatmadaw leadership a unique power, and a unique responsibility."

The minister was referring to provisions in the charter which provide for military appointees to hold 25 percent of the seats in parliament, giving them an effective veto over constitutional amendments, which require support from more than 75 percent of MPs.

Mr Swire, who was on his second visit to Myanmar since being appointed Foreign Office Minister in 2012, said it was obvious from those whom he had met that there was overwhelming support among ordinary people for constitutional change.

“Change that brings the constitution in line with international democratic standards; change that delivers greater devolution of powers to states and divisions (sic) through a strengthened federal system; change that cements the independence of the judiciary; change that removes the military’s veto over democratic reform and gives citizens greater control over their own destinies,” he said.

Mr Swire singled out the need to amend Section 59(f) of the constitution so that National League for Democracy chair, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, would be eligible to contest the presidency.

“I can only assume that the restriction was written into the 2008 Constitution in order to prevent one particular individual from ever becoming president. This is surely no way to write a Constitution,” he said.

Mr Swire also referred to training provided by Britain in Myanmar this month for about 40 Tatmadaw officers.

The training covered “the role of the military in democracy, security sector reform, governance, accountability and the rule of law,” the minister said. “It did not enhance the Tatmadaw’s military capacity or capabilities.”