President announces three major steps regarding constitutional reforms

The government will take three important steps including an all party conference on constitutional reforms in order to prevent incorrect information which creates confusion about the proposed new constitution”, President Maithripala Sirisena said.

"Accordingly, the government will call for an all party conference, with participation of the political parties represented in Parliament, a conference of all religious leaders and another conference of scholars and intellectuals who are interested in this national issue”, he said.

“At these conferences the issues pertaining to the proposed new constitution can be discussed and unnecessary clauses could be removed and new clauses could be included, if required”, he further said. The President was speaking at the National Convention on Reconciliation, participated by associations and national civil society activists, held yesterday at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

He said the country’s problems cannot be solved through the protests carried out by being separated into parties. “People and the country cannot be progressed through the divisions and separations. Everybody should get together and, work with understanding and find solutions. That is what, required for the country today”, the President said.

“Many people who mess up the problems don’t have any ability to solve them. I invite the venerable Maha Sangha, other religious leaders, scholars and intellectuals to sit around one table and discuss about this matter”, he said.

President emphasized that it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that the sound of gunfire is not heard once again. Everybody should take the responsibility to build the economy of all the people in a fair society.

The convention was organized by the Ministry of National Coexistence, Dialogue and Official Languages. The President presented certificates for the best coexistence associations.

Ven. Mahagalkadawara Pugnasara Thero and Maha Sangha, other religious leaders, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Minister Mano Ganeshan and the State Minister A. H. M. Fawzie were among those participated in this occasion.