19A: NEW COMMITTEE TO WORKOUT CONSENSUS

Party Leaders unable to reach consensus on changes Committee is to meet today to strike a deal

With political party leaders being unable to agree on the contents of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution and with voting scheduled for today, a fresh committee has been appointed to work out a consensus, informed sources said yesterday.

The United National Party (UNP), the main constituent of the government, had submitted its amendments to be incorporated during the committee stage of the bill while the main opposition Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) had also proposed certain amendments on eight points.

The party leaders met in the parliamentary complex, and discussed the proposals in the hope of reaching a consensus ahead of the vote on the bill this evening.

However, the meeting reportedly ended without any consensus and therefore time was given till 10.00 a.m. today for further consultations with all stakeholders. A committee comprising members from both sides was also set up. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe nominated Minister Rauff Hakeem, Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera while the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) nominated MPM. A. Sumanthiran. The Opposition nominated MPs Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Rajiva Wijesinha and Faizer Mustapha. It is learnt that SLFP MP G.L. Peiris and Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) Leader Dinesh Gunawardema declined to serve on these committee.

The opposition parties proposed that outsiders should not be appointed to serve in the Constitutional Council to be set up under the 19th Amendment. MEP and Democratic Left Alliance (DNA) Leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara said it should solely be a parliamentary body.

However, the constitutional bill, now before the House, provides for the appointment of only three members of parliament with the remaining seven are to be from outside parliament .

The opposition parties are also opposed to the clause ensuring a role for the Sri Lanka Bar Association in the appointment of Supreme Court judges.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Ajith P Perera said last night that the government and the opposition joint committee appointed to discuss the Amendments to the constitution had failed to reach agreement on the proposed legislation.

He said the committee had failed to agree on two points: The government had not agreed to two amendments -- namely the removal of the clause that the president should appoint the Cabinet in consultation with the Prime Minister and the opposition’s proposal that the constitutional council should comprise only MPs.

However the joint committee is to meet this morning to strike a deal.