Public invited to write with views on new Constitution

The Public Representations Committee on Constitutional Reforms has invited people to write in with their views on a new Constitution before February 10, 2016.

The notice was published in newspapers this week.  It said the public is advised to send written representations under different headings. There are twenty such headings. They are Nature of the State; Form of Government (Presidential/Parliamentary); Basic Structure of the Constitution; Citizenship, Religion, Fundamental Rights and Duties, Language Rights, Individual and Group Rights, Directive Principles on State Policy; Legislature (Unicameral/Bicameral); Supremacy of Constitution or Parliament; Separation of Powers; Independence of the Judiciary and the Courts Structure; Constitutional Court; and Power Sharing Devolution and Local Government.

The rest are Sharing Power at the Centre; Constitutional Council and Independent Commissions; Public Service; Electoral Reforms; Judicial Review of Legislation; Powers of President under Parliamentary System; Election of President under Parliamentary System; Public Security; Finance; and any other matters.

Contributions can be sent by post to Chairman, Public Representations Committee on Constitutional Reforms, Visumpaya, Colombo 2. The fax number is (011) 2328780. The email address is constitutionalreforms@gmail.com.