Draft of new Constitution expected in six months

The preliminary draft of a new Constitution is expected to be ready in six months, the Government said yesterday.

Cabinet so-spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella, addressing the media in the first post-cabinet media conference to be held via Zoom, said that the process to draft a new Constitution is underway.

“We are confident the expert committee appointed to draft a proposal will submit a draft in six months,” he said.

A nine-member expert committee was appointed last month to prepare the preliminary draft for a new Constitution.

The committee is headed by President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva and includes President’s Counsel Gamini Marapana, President’s Counsel Manohara De Silva, President’s Counsel Sanjeewa Jayawardena, Prof. Nazeema Kamardeen, Dr. A. Sarveswaran, President’s Counsel Samantha Ratwatte, Prof. Wasantha Senevirathne and Prof. G. H. Peiris.

Rambukwella said that the 20th Amendment to the Constitution was presented as a preliminary and all the proposals made to the 20th Amendment have been taken into consideration.

The Minister also questioned the real motive behind the move to prevent a dual citizen from entering Parliament or holding the office of the President.

The 19th Amendment prevented persons who are dual citizens from being elected as members of Parliament. The provision also disqualified a person who is a dual citizen from being elected as President.

Rambukwella said that the public should decide if they want to elect a dual citizen as President. (Easwaran Rutnam)