Fate of new Constitution after LG election

The Government will decide on a course of action with regard to the new Constitution after the local government election, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

We have already decided not to make the GCE Ordinary Level examination pass or fail affair. Accordingly they will be made to continue with their studies after the Ordinary Level examination. We have also gone ahead with the programme of distributing Tabs to the students

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe came up with this statement in response to a question raised by the members of Youth Parliament last afternoon. Mr Wickremesinghe met the members of Youth Parliament at Temple Trees last afternoon and discussed several matters ranging from national politics and issues pertaining to youth.

“The Steering Committee of the constitutional assembly will meet after the local government election and decide on the next course of action on the new Constitution” he said responding to a question raised by the youth Parliament members.

“We need people’s mandate and expect they will support us in this endeavour” he added.

Also he said the constitutional assembly will be making an effort to reduce the gaps between various alternatives proposed by various groups. “We will be looking towards devolving maximum powers to the provincial councils while bringing in laws to prevent division of the country,” he elaborated.

Responding to questions pertaining to the steps the government intends taking in changing the education system which is based on competitive examinations, the Prime Minister said action has been taken to initiate a change in the system. “We have already decided not to make the GCE Ordinary Level examination pass or fail affair. Accordingly they will be made to continue with their studies after the Ordinary Level examination. We have also gone ahead with the programme of distributing Tabs to the students,” he said while suggesting that the Youth Parliament members have a discussion with the Education Minister.

He said efforts will be made to increase the university intake and said that it will take time.