Mangala calls for new Constitution to help resolve the ethnic conflict
April 29, 2015
Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday called for a new constitution to help resolve the ethnic conflict.
This call was made during his speech at the debate on the 19th Amendment in Parliament yesterday.
Following is the full text of Samaraweera’s speech.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that good sense will prevail and that today, the 28th of April 2015, will be a historic day for Sri Lanka. It should be remembered as the day which heralded the beginning of the end of the all powerful executive presidential system in our country. Since introducing the First Republican Constitution in 1972 we have journeyed from a Westminster form of government to an all-powerful Executive Presidency introduced by the Second Republican Constitution. However, both these Republican constitutions proved to be inadequate to meet the dreams and aspirations of all the communities, ethnic groups and religious groups living in our country.
Having suffered the consequences and realised our mistakes, we are gathered here today to make an important course correction.
This call was made during his speech at the debate on the 19th Amendment in Parliament yesterday.
Following is the full text of Samaraweera’s speech.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that good sense will prevail and that today, the 28th of April 2015, will be a historic day for Sri Lanka. It should be remembered as the day which heralded the beginning of the end of the all powerful executive presidential system in our country. Since introducing the First Republican Constitution in 1972 we have journeyed from a Westminster form of government to an all-powerful Executive Presidency introduced by the Second Republican Constitution. However, both these Republican constitutions proved to be inadequate to meet the dreams and aspirations of all the communities, ethnic groups and religious groups living in our country.
Having suffered the consequences and realised our mistakes, we are gathered here today to make an important course correction.
