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Constitutional Assembly holds inaugural meet; PM heads steering committee
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The Constitutional Assembly (CA) which held its inaugural meeting this week will meet again next month after the Committee of Public Representations on the Constitution (CPRC) submits its report.
At its first meet held on Tuesday, 21 members were named to its Steering Committee, which is tasked with preparing the draft of a new Constitution for the country. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was unanimously appointed Chairman of this Committee, while Speaker Karu Jayasuirya, as Chairman of the Assembly, presided over it.
The other 20 members of the steering committee are MPs Lakshman Kiriella, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Rauff Hakeem, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Susil Premaratne, Rishard Bathurdeen, Patali Champika Ranawaka, D.M. Swaminanathan, Mano Ganeshan, Malik Samarawickrama, R. Sampanthan, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Dilan Perera, Dinesh Gunawardena, Jayampathi Wickremaratne, M.A. Sumanthiran, Dr Thusitha Wijemanne, Bimal Ratnayake, Prasanna Ranatunga and Douglas Devananda.
Their names were proposed by Chief Government Whip and Parliament Reforms and Mass Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka and seconded by State Minister of Water Supply and City Planning Dr Sudarshani Fernandopulle.
Seven MPs were also appointed Deputy Chairpersons of the CA at its inaugural meeting. They are: Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala, Selvam Adaikkalanathan, Ministers Kabir Hashim, State Minister Dr Sudarshani Fernandopulle, MPs Tilak Marapana, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Dr Nalinda Jayatissa. Their names were proposed by Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella and seconded by TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran.
Speaker Jayasuriya addressing the meeting, called it a historic occasion on which MPs are being entrusted with the task of drafting a new Constitution or amending the present one, in keeping with the aspirations of the people.
Premier Wickremesinghe said 21 subcommittees would be appointed to assist in formulating a new Constitution, once the CPRC submits its report.
The CA will conduct its sittings in the Chamber of Parliament and the quorum for meetings is 20.