The Constitutional Assembly was formed converting the entire parliament following a resolution passed unanimously in Parliament in March 2016 to formulate a new Constitution.
All 225 MPs are members in it and its first sitting was held on April 5 and appointed a 21 member Steering Committee headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to deal with the core issues relating to the Constitution.
In the meantime, six sub-committees were appointed by the CA on “fundamental rights, Judiciary, finance, public service, law and order, centre-periphery” and their reports were placed before the CA by the Prime Minister on November 19, 2016. The CA has so far conducted four sittings.
On Wednesday (19), five Parliamentarians from the National Freedom Front, led by Wimal Weerawansa decided to leave the assembly and informed the speaker accordingly. Followed by this MP Weerawansa made a scathing criticism on the other Joint opposition members for remaining in the Constitutional Assembly.
However, in answering a question from Journalists former President Mahinda Rajapakshe said yesterday (20), that the Joint Opposition (JO) group is divided on the issue of leaving or remaining in the constitutional Assembly. He further said while one group insisting on immediate withdrawal from the Constitutional Assembly (CA) and the other adamant on remaining in it. Hence, JO has decided to let the constituent parties to decide separately as to whether they wish to continue in the CA or not, he added.
The Federation of National Organisations led by Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekara yesterday lashed out at the Joint Opposition (JO) for deciding to remain in the Constitutional Assembly against the advices of the Chief Prelates. The people will vote against the JO and reject them in the next election,” he warned
Dr. Amarasekara, speaking to the media in Rajagiriya yesterday lashed out at the JO for acting against the advices of the Chief Prelates. Dr. Amarasekara further accused MP Dinesh Gunawardena for writing “secret letters” to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremeisnghe over problems that have cropped up in the Constitutional making process.
However, MP Dinesh Gunawardena and MP Prasanna Ranatunga, who represents the JO at the Steering Committee of the CA will continue to participate in the next round of Steering Committee meetings due next week, they confirmed
