Constitutional Assembly begins April 5

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

The Parliament will convene, for the first time, as a Constitutional Assembly when the House meets on April 5.

On that day, Parliament sessions will start at 1.00 p.m. and the House will adjourn at 2.00 p.m. After the adjournment of Parliament, the legislative body will convene as the Constitutional Assembly, Parliament sources told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

Parliament on March 9 unanimously adopted a resolution moved by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for the appointment of the Constitutional Assembly to formulate a new Constitution for Sri Lanka.

It proposes the setting up of a Committee of Parliament referred to as the ‘Constitutional Assembly’ which woul consist of all Members of Parliament, to deliberate and seek the views and advice of the people, on a new Constitution, and prepare a draft of a Constitution Bill for the consideration of Parliament in the exercise of its powers under Article 75 of the Constitution.

According to these sources, the Constitutional Assembly, at its first sitting, will elect the Deputy Chairpersons, determine the Sub-Committees and elect members to the Sub-Committees.

The Constitutional Assembly will also consist of a Steering Committee headed by Prime Minister as the Chairman, Leader of the House of Parliament, Leader of the Opposition, the Minister of Justice and not more than 17 other Members.

The Chairman of each Sub Committee will be appointed by the Steering Committee.

At the first meeting of the Constitutional Assembly the Prime Minister is expected to present a resolution for adoption by the Constitutional Assembly, calling on the Steering Committee to present a Resolution proposing a Draft Constitution for the consideration of the Constitutional Assembly, before its submission to the Cabinet of Ministers and Parliament. The Constitutional Assembly is thereby authorised to conduct its sittings in the Chamber of Parliament.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya will be the Chairman of the Constitutional Assembly and there will be seven Deputy Chairpersons who will be elected by the Constitutional Assembly. In the absence of the Speaker, the Constitutional Assembly will elect one of the Deputy Chairpersons to chair the sittings of the Assembly.