President marks first year in office

Elaborate arrangements are being made for January 8 and 9 to mark President Maithripala Sirisena’s first year in office, according to Presidential Secretariat sources.

A book titled ‘Ekama Deyak, Maha Balayak’ will be released on Jan. 8 and a colourful pageant with the participation of the tri-forces will be held at Independence Square on January 9. The pageant will showcase the people’s silent revolution and President Sirisena’s accession to power.

The President is scheduled to make a statement in Parliament on January 9 on the new Constitution and the new parameters of constitution-making.

Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya, Prof. Carlo Fonseka and Imtiyaz Bakeer Markar will appear on talk shows on state media in this connection. Rupavahini will educate the masses on the new Constitution.

However, the Government is keen to retain the 13th Amendment which is already incorporated in the Constitution.

In December 2015, Prime Minister Ranil Wickermesignhe, delivering the Sujata Jayawardena memorial oration highlighted the need to examine the Westminster system and other alternatives to determine the best form of executive government for Sri Lanka, which is capable of evolving a national consensus on the basic policy framework. He also stressed that the proposed Constitution will have to be approved by a two thirds majority in Parliament and subsequently by the people at a Referendum.