Public Representations Committee seeks views on new constitution

The 24-member Public Representations Committee on constitutional Reforms appointed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has decided to call for public opinion on the new constitution that is to be formulated by the constitutional Assembly after the adoption of the resolution moved by the Prime Minister in Parliament yesterday .

The committee will be chaired by Attorney Lal Wijenayake and include President's Counsel Faizer Mustapha, Professor Gamini Samaranayake and Professor AM Navaratne Bandara and M.L.A. Cader, among others.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister's office said the PM has granted approval to the committee to seek public opinion and accordingly the committee is expected to seek oral and written submissions from the public. A report on the public opinion and recommendations will be presented to a Cabinet Sub Committee on Constitutional Reforms.

The public can send suggestions separately on the nature of the State, form of government (Presidential / Parliamentary) , structure of the Constitution, citizenship, religion, fundamental rights and duties, language rights, individual and group rights, directive principles on State policy, legislature (unicameral/bicameral) and the supremacy of Constitution or Parliament.

Public also can submit their proposals on the separation of powers, independence of the Judiciary and the Courts Structure, Constitutional Court, Power sharing, Devolution and Local Government, sharing power at the center.