Constitutional Assembly Steering Committee to finalise draft proposal
The Steering Committee appointed by the Constitutional Assembly and chaired by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, will meet on January 5 and 6 to finalise the draft Constitution.
If consensus is reached during the twoday meeting, the report is expected to be presented to the Constitutional Assembly, comprising all MPs, which will meet on January 9, 10 and 11, to debate the draft, said Steering Committee member Dr Jayampathy Wickramaratne.
The Report is based on the six sub-committee reports on Fundamental Rights, the Judiciary, Law and Order, Public Service, Public Finance and Centre- Periphery Relations, which were presented in November last year.
The 21-member Steering Committee comprising representatives of all political parties in Parliament, has been directly deliberating on core subject areas pertaining to the nature of the State, form and structure of government, principles of devolution, religion, electoral reforms and land.
Among the contentious issues have been electoral reforms and power sharing, the Sunday Times learns.
Among the power sharing models recommended by the sub committee on CentrePeriphery Relations, is the setting up of Grama Rajyas to ensure direct participation by the people in the decision-making process, as well as devolution of more power to Local Authorities.
Several smaller parties including the EPDP, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) led by Minister of National Dialogue Mano Ganesan, will present a report with their proposals for electoral reforms, power sharing, as well as the executive presidency, when the Steering Committee meets on January 5.