PM to appoint a committee of intellectuals to formulate constitutional reforms

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe plans to appoint a committee comprising intellectuals in the country to formulate the constitutional reforms.

The committee will function under the directions of the Prime Minister, the national radio said.

The committee will consist of several intellectuals including former Head of Department of Political Science at the University of Peradeniya Prof. M.O.A De Soyza and President’s Counsel Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne.

The Prime Minister has earlier announced that the government will formulate a new constitution within six months after the new government is formed.

In an interview with The Hindu, the Prime Minister said the mains issue will be a new system of elections. He said all parties have agreed that it should be a mixed proportional system but haven’t agreed on the break-up between the constituencies and those who come on the general list.

The other issues a new constitution will address is the executive presidency, strengthening the parliament and provincial councils. While some citizens’ groups want to completely abolish the executive presidency the SLFP, the partner of the unity government is opposed to it.

Considering the power devolution, the PM said he will work to maximise devolution within the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Dr. Wickramaratne, who headed the three-member team that prepared the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, has also called for a new constitution since the existing 1978 Constitution has been amended so many times.