By Cyril Wimalasurendre

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, attending a Buddhist religious programme at Wattegama, said a new constitution for Sri Lanka would be drafted only after seeking the views of all stakeholders including the Mahanayake Theras.

Wickremesinghe said there was no draft constitution ready to be introduced to Parliament.

The Prime Minister made these statements after unveiling of the pinnacle of the ancient Vihare of Pitiyegedara in Wattegama, on Friday (20).

The government, consisting of two principal political parties, had no intention of dividing the country. It was committed to taking the country forward instead, the PM said.

PM Wickremesinghe said the country must be developed politically economically and culturally and an environment should be created for all the people to live together peacefully. To achieve that goal, a widely accepted constitution was essential, he said. But there was no constitution drafted so far. “But we are being attacked and found fault with saying we are going to abolish the presidential system and call for a Westminster system,” he said.

Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella said Sri Lanka was a Sinhala Buddhist country and that Buddhism should be protected.

Sri Lanka had been under foreign rule for over 400 years but none of the colonial powers could destroy Buddha Sasana in Sri Lanka.

Venerable Anamaduwe Sri Dhammadassai Anunayake Thera of Asgiriya and chief incumbent of Pitiyegedara Raja Maha Vihare Venerable Kiulgama Sumanasara thera also addressed the meeting.

Courtesy:The Island