Steering Committee Report On Constitutional Reform in August

The first interim report on the draft of a new constitution will be presented to Parliament by August this year, said the Prime Minister.

Addressing the Conference on Constitutional Reforms held at the BMICH yesterday, Chairman of the Constitutional Assembly Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe explained, that there is a difference between the draft constitution bill and the report on the constitution.“What we have engaged now is preparing a report on the constitution”.

The report can be used, publicized and public opinion sought and then a debate will take place. Once the debate is over we can send a full report to Parliament and debate how the draft constitution should be prepared. It is a long process that will build the consent instead of divisions.

“The steering committee appointed six sub committees to deal with different matters. Sub committees consulted all stakeholders and submitted the report. Now the steering committee has to submit the report. The report will be submitted by the end of August.” he said..

Former deputy Chief Justice of South Africa Judge Moseneke, Deputy Chairman of the Constitutional Assembly Thilaga Sumathipala, Ministers, Parliamentarians,Chief Ministers of the Provincial Councils were present.