AS NO QUORUM

CC REMAINS DEFUNCT

The Constitutional Council (CC), which makes recommendations for the appointments of Independent Commissions and key appointments in the State sector, remain defunct virtually as six out of seven slots reserved for nominated members have not been filled at the moment, it is learnt.

The President has nominated Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe as his representative to the CC at the moment Also, three representatives should be nominated to represent civil society. Previously, A. T. Ariyaratne, Radhika Coomaraswamy and Sibly Aziz served in the CC as civil society representatives.

The CC is a body that consists of ten members. Seven are nominated members. The three others - the Speaker, the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader - are ex officio members. The three-year term of seven nominated members ended recently. However, only President Maithripala Sirisena has nominated Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe as his representative to the CC at the moment. Accordingly, there are four members of the CC now in place.

According to parliamentary sources, the CC cannot hold its meetings until another member is nominated to meet the quorum of five.

The Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader are required to nominate their representatives from

among parliamentarians. Besides, another parliamentarian should be appointed to represent the parties in Parliament which the Prime Minister or the Opposition Leader do not belong to.

Also, three representatives should be nominated to represent civil society. Previously, A. T. Ariyaratne, Radhika Coomaraswamy and Sibly Aziz served in the CC as civil society representatives.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya held a meeting recently to work out the modalities for the selection of three civil society members. For this purpose, civil society organizations such as PAFFREL are to be consulted.