Govt. decides to appoint Committee of intellectuals

To obtain views from public on constitutional reforms

The government has decided to appoint a committee comprising 24 intellectuals to send round the country to interact with the public, social and religious organizations, the clergy and other interested parties to obtain their views and proposals on constitutional reforms.

Government spokesman, Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said the 24 intellectuals will form themselves into three member teams will visit all 25 districts for the purpose and submit a report to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who heads the Parliamentary group on Constitutional reforms.

Meanwhile, Parliament in a bid to introduce a new Constitution or to introduce Constitutional reforms will meet as a Constitutional Council on a proposal to be made by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe on January 9 in Parliament, the Cabinet was informed on Wednesday by the PM.

A Ministerial Subcommittee was appointed on a recommendation of the cabinet that met on 18-112015 to discuss constitutional reforms headed by Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva. At a meeting of that subcommittee it has been decided to appoint a sub committee to meet public representations in both print and electronic media.

A Cabinet sub-committee headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was recently appointed to draft the new Constitution.

The committee comprises Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Lakshman Kiriella, Rauff Hakeem, Susil Premajayantha, Rishad Bathiudeen, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, D.M. Swaminathan, Mano Ganesan, and Malik Samarawickrama.

One technical committee will draft electoral reforms proposals, the other amendments to the Presidential system and one on the national issue.

The technical committee on electoral reforms has already been formed and is being headed by Parliamentarian and constitutional expert Jayampathy Wickremeratne.