Debate on six subcommittees to be followed by final report to CA

New Constitution making process on track

Dr. Jayampathy

By Shamindra Ferdinando-December 13, 2017, 10:46 pm 

The Steering Committee of the Constitutional Assembly would prepare its final report, containing constitutional proposals following a debate on recommendations made by six sub committees that dealt with fundamental rights, judiciary, law and order, public finance, public service and centre-periphery relations, Steering Committee member and MP Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne told The Island yesterday.

Dr. Wickramaratne said comprehensive reports submitted by six sub committees to parliament several months back had to be debated. The House debated the Steering Committee’s Interim report presented to the Constitutional Assembly on Sept 21, 2017.

Answering a query, Dr. Wickramaratne said that it would be the responsibility of the Steering Committee to prepare the final report also taking into consideration the debates on the interim report as well as the sub committee reports. "The final report will be submitted to the Constitutional Assembly comprising members of parliament," Dr. Wickramaratne said.

The final report will be submitted to the Constitutional Assembly together with the draft Constitution for approval of the Constitutional Assembly.

Parliament last Monday (Dec 11) concluded sittings for 2017. House will meet again on January 23, 2018.

Asked whether the debate on sub committee reports would take place after the new year, Dr. Wickramaratne said that he couldn’t comment on that though he was certain those reports were to be discussed.

The Constitutional Assembly on April 5, 2016 named 21-member Steering Committee chaired by PM Wickremesinghe.

According to Dr. Wickramaratne, Steering Committee had dealt with matters covered in Chapter 1 and 2 of the 1978 Constitution, sovereignty, nature of the state, religion, form of government, electoral reforms, land and devolution.

Except the five-member National Freedom Front (NFF) parliamentary group all other political parties with parliamentary representation remain in the Constitutional Assembly.

The NFF quit the committee after having failed to convince the Joint Opposition (JO) members, Dinesh Gunawardena and Prasanna Ranatunga to quit the Steering Committee. Deputy leader of the NFF and Anuradhapura District MP Weerakumara Dissanayake and its National Organiser Piyasiri Wijenayake have since switched their allegiance to President Sirisena.

Dr. Wickramaratne emphasised that the constitution making project was on track.

Political sources said Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had in no uncertain terms rejected UNP MP and Steering Committee member Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s claim that the Constitutional Assembly was unconstitutional.