The new constitution is being formulated by parliament sitting as a constitutional council. Once the new constitution is passed in parliament it has to be adopted by the people at a referendum, said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe when he opened the new administrative complex of the Jaffna Kachcheri on September 17.
The Prime Minister said initial discussions have also been started regarding the executive presidential system but no finality has still been reached. A final decision would be taken after discussing devolution of power. A decision had been taken to take the system of devolution of power to the grass roots level by extending it not only to the Provincial Councils but also to Pradeshiya Sabhas and Town Councils.
A firm decision has also been taken to protect and safeguard the country’s territorial integrity at all costs.
He said discussions had been held and agreement reached on the setting up of a Senate representative of all nine provinces. New discussions were in progress on the powers of the Senate. Discussions were also in progress about abolishing the concurrent list or further limiting it.
Relations between the Central Government and the Provincial Councils were also being discussed.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said nothing harmful would be done to the National Anthem, National flag or Buddhism under the proposed constitution as alleged by opponents and detractors.
This was not an issue anymore as the National Anthem, National flag and the predominant protection of Buddhism would remain unchanged in the new constitution.
The Prime Minister said some people had tried to describe the singing of the National Anthem in Tamil as an unpatriotic move, but the father of the nation, late Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake had approved the singing of the National Anthem in Tamil. Now no one was critical of this move anymore.
He said with regard to the devolution of power there was a fear that the Central Government will withdraw devolved powers and pull the provincial councils by its legs. Discussions had been held to eliminate this suspicion and fear.
Wickremesinghe said two constitutional experts had made alterations to the executive presidency . Their endeavour was to find solutions. Attempts were being made to submit that report in November.
The Prime Minister said after the ending of war everyone expected a solution to the communal problem based on the 13th amendment to the constitution. Further President Mahinda Rajapaksa promised the 13 plus as a solution then, but it was never implemented. This aggravated the problem of the Tamils and created problems for the Muslims as well.
The Sinhalese as well as the Malwatte Chapter had to face this problem. When all parties got together to resolve this problem, they put forward President Maithripala Sirisena as the common candidate and the people elected him as the president. Now the president is also committed to resolve this problem.
The president addressing the UNP’s 70th anniversary celebrations said the two main parties should get together to resolve this problem.
Both the UNP and the SLFP were on the same wave length regarding this issue. That was why they set up a unity government to resolve this issue together, the Prime Minister said.
Wickremesinghe said that if not for the 30 year war, Sri Lanka would have been a developed country by now. No one had profited by resorting to communalism.
Courtesy:Daily News