Constitutional Council not above Parliament says Ranil

by Saman Indrajith-December 20, 2015

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said in Parliament that major part of the budget 2016 proposals had been changed following demands from people to the government to do so and the amended proposals would be implemented next year.

Participating in the committee stage debate on the budget under the expenditure heads of the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, the Prime Minister said that the Constitutional Council was not above Parliament and the council arrangement was being implemented by Parliament.

"If we fail to find a remedy to traffic congestion as soon as possible, we would have to provide helicopters to people to travel," he said.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe: "This ministry was set up to implement the work of the 100-day program of the government. People have hopes. We should act to help them realize their hopes. This budget had been presented as a traditional budget. If there are any shortcomings and amendments to be made, we could do so in the committee stage.

"We could remedy them. We have discussed this matter with the opposition. I discussed with the MPs of the SLFP and agreed with their suggestions. The amended proposals would be implemented next year. We are flexible on amendments.

"Now we are discussing a new electoral system. We are also trying to find solutions for the heavy traffic congestion. We have to find solutions soon otherwise we would have to provide helicopters to people. The problem was a result of the large volume of vehicles coming to the streets in 2015. We are planning to bring about a better transport service targeting the needs of the middle class.

"Several doctors have got together and put their signatures on a sheet of paper and sent it to me. Members of the doctors association accepted that the statement made by their secretary with regard to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with India.

"We are planning to strengthen higher education and technological research sector. Many countries in the world have come forward to help us in this regard.

"We have taken action to solve the national problem. The economic situation in Jaffna has to be revived and developed. We are planning to release some more lands occupied by the Army to the people there.

"We are discussing how to do that. The Ministry of Agriculture would be relocated. We are starting from there. We have appointed a committee to make recommendations on the Constitutional Council, which is not something above Parliament. It is set up by Parliament."

Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake: There are provisions in the Standing Orders to appoint Working Committees. We should appoint a select committee for the formulation of the Constitution. There are no provisions to convert the entire parliament into a constituent assembly.

Prime Minister: "We could meet under my leadership. According to the provisions of the Constitution, parliament could pass a motion to suspend Standing Orders. We are not going against legal provisions. We could meet and make decisions which could then be forwarded to the sub-committee on the Constitutional Council. Thereafter we could forward it to the Cabinet of Ministers and then to Parliament".

Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake: The decisions with regard to parliamentary affairs could be made at the party leaders’ meeting. We should work in a manner complementary with Standing Orders.  The Leader of the House informed us that prime minister had said that proposed workshop for new MPs was not necessary.

Prime Minister: We could decide a date and conduct the workshop. What I said was that we might not be able to do it within this year.

Colombo District UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardena: The amendment to the Constitution should be made in accordance with the decisions made at the party leaders’ meeting. The entire Parliament could be turned into a committee of which proposals could next be forwarded to Parliament for approval.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe: President Maithripala Sirisena is agreeable to prune the executive powers of the presidency. We could do so with the consent of people. We are not going to do so in one day as the 18th amendment to the Constitution has been passed.