Adjournment debate on “Constitutional Reforms in Sri Lanka” commences in the House

The two day Adjournment debate on “Constitutional Reforms in Sri Lanka” brought by Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) commenced in the House today. The debate is to continue tomorrow. 

Opening the Adjournment debate, Leader of TNA R. Sampandan urged all political parties to come to a consensus on the new Constitution as the Parliament adopted a resolution earlier converting it as a Constitutional Assembly. A Steering Committee headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was also appointed with the representatives of parties in the Parliament. 

Early this year, a report prepared by the Panel of Experts for the Steering Committee which is based on the Interim Report, six Sub Committee Report, the Report of the ad hoc Sub Committee set up by the Steering Committee to look into the relationship between the Parliament and the Provincial Councils. 

A ten member Panel of Experts was appointed by the Constitutional Assembly in May 2016. The panel includes professors, academics, lawyers and experts from varied fields such as engineering, social sciences etc. The Experts were appointed according to nominations received from different political parties at the Steering Committee.