More time needed for public opinion on a new constitution: PAFFREL

By Yohan Perera

Whilst welcoming the Government’s decision to appoint a committee of intellectuals to get public opinion for a new Constitution, People’s Action for Free and Fair Election ( PAFFREL) yesterday called for the extension of the time-frame given to submit proposals.

PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi in a statement urged the Government to extend the deadline for submission of proposals.

The period given for the submission of proposals ends from November 30 2020.

Mr Hettiarachchi called for the setting up of a district-level mechanism for the people to submit proposals from the districts they are currently residing.

He said aspirations of political parties and current political issues should not be taken into consideration when compiling a new Constitution

“Sri Lanka has faced two youth uprisings and a 30-year civil-war. The new Constitution that is to be compiled should be aimed at healing the wounds that have been created by these conflicts while new constitution should be accepted by all,” Mr Hettiarachchi said.

“Few documents which comprise proposals for a new Constitution are already available. These include the proposal for a new Constitution presented to Parliament by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in 2000, the APRC Report in 2006 and the Lal Wijenayake report that was compiled in 2017,” he said.

“These could be made use of while we propose that assistance of international experts sound also be sought,” he said.  

• Sri Lanka has faced two youth uprisings and a 30-year civil-war. The new Constitution that is to be compiled should be aimed at healing the wounds that have been created by these conflicts while new constitution should be accepted by all