Constitutional reform resolution:

Vasu calls for clarity

by Rukshana Rizwie

Members of the Joint Opposition will meet on January 6 where the agenda would be the inclusivity of an all party representation at the steering committee of the Constitutional Assembly, the leader of Democratic Left Front Vasudeva Nanayakkara told the Sunday Observer.

Referring to the Constitutional Reform Resolution E 20151117, Nanayakkara said the resolution does not lucidly or explicitly detail as to who would represent at the two subcommittees of the Constitutional Assembly and eventually draft the Constitution bill for consideration by Parliament.

“We think there is a case for an all party to be named and recognized by Parliament, but this has not been lucidly spelt out,” he said. “We feel that there is some incongruity in the manner in which this resolution has been initiated.”

He added that the members of the Joint Opposition were studying the matter carefully and would meet on January 6 when they would decide their next course of action before Parliament convenes.

He also decried the title that has been cited in the resolution stating that this was not a ‘Constitutional Assembly’ but a ‘Parliamentary Constitutional Council’

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to move a resolution in Parliament to convert the House into a Constitutional Assembly when President Maithripala Sirisena begins his second year in office on January 9.

A Steering Committee consisting of the Prime Minister as Chairman, Leader of the House of Parliament, Leader of the Opposition, Minister of Justice and not more than seventeen (17) other Members of the Constitutional Assembly will be appointed.