PM says Constitution building process cannot stop

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday asserted that the process to draft a new Constitution could not stop.

Speaking at a public event in Mannar, the Prime Minister said that the Government has been given a mandate to draft a new Constitution and that mandate must be respected. He said that discussions have been held with the Chief Prelates and leaders of other religions on the new Constitution.

 The Prime Minister said that Buddhism will be given its rightful place in the new Constitution while other religions will also be respected. The Chief Prelates of the three main Buddhist chapters this week decided there was no need for a new Constitution in Sri Lanka. The decision was seen as a major barricade to Government efforts to draft a new Constitution which will include electoral reforms and a political solution to the Tamil issue. Parliament has already commenced the process of drafting a new Constitution or amending the existing one. 

(Colombo Gazette)