New PSC to discuss changes to Constitution

by Manjula Fernando

The fresh Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) proposed to discuss the constitutional amendments will comprise 19 members from the Government and 12 from the Opposition, the Leader of the House and Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told Sunday Observer yesterday.

He said a party leaders meeting has been summoned on Tuesday presided by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa where he will appoint a Chairman to the PSC of those who have been nominated by each party.

Inquired as to what will be the mandate of the proposed PSC, the Minister said it will discuss mainly changes needed to the constitution and a mechanism for power devolution.

Asked if it will discuss the prospects of bringing in a fresh constitution, he said 'that too can be considered within the PSC'.

Minister Siripala added that the Government will bring in the Urgent Bill to alter just one clause in the 13-A, the powers vested with Provincial Councils to merge with one another. The powers calling for the Central Government to pass Bills in Parliament without the consent of all nine Provincial Councils will not be included in the Urgent Bill, but will be referred to the PSC.

He said the Urgent Bill will not reach parliament next week since it has to follow a certain procedure.

'The legal draftsman has to go through and finetune the proposed law and then it must receive the Cabinet nod, then a Supreme Court ruling and finally the parliament.'

The main coalition partners of the Government including the Communist Party, SLMC and others have cautioned the Government against any move that will strengthen the TNA ahead of the Northern Provincial Council election. Senior Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera said constitutional changes can be effected following the consensus at the PSC. The CP and all others however, have agreed to the Urgent Bill seeking to remove the clause facilitating the merger, at the last Cabinet meeting.

Minister Gunasekera said any unilateral decision to bring in major changes to the 13-A will only strengthen the pro-LTTE TNA in the run up to a crucial election.