PM appointed unanimously to Chair Constitutional Council Steering Committee 

By Saman Indrajith-April 6, 2016, 7:07 am

The Constitutional Assembly, which met for the first time yesterday, appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe unanimously for the post of Chairman of the Steering Committee vested with the task of preparing a new Constitution for the country.

When it met with Speaker Karu Jayasuriya presiding, Chief Government Whip and Parliament Reforms and Mass Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka proposed the name of Premier Wickremeisnghe to the post of Chairman of Steering Committee of the Assembly and the names of 20 other MPs as members of the committee.

Gampaha District UPFA parliamentarian Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle seconded the proposal by Minister Karunathilaka.

Twenty other members of the committee are MPs Lakshman Kiriella, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Rauff Hakim, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Susil Premaratne, Rishad Bathiudeen, Patali Champika Ranawaka, D.M. Swaminanathan, Mano Ganeshan,

Malik Samarawickrama, R. Sampanthan, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Dilan Perera, Dinesh Gunawardena, Jayampathi Wickremaratne, M. A. Sumanthiran, Dr Thusitha Wijemanne, Bimal Ratnayake, Prasanna Ranatunga and Douglas Devananda.

Leader of the House Minister Lakshman Kiriella proposed the names of seven MPs for the posts of deputy chairmen and the names were seconded by TNA MP Sumanthiran. The seven deputy chairmen of the assembly are Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala, Deputy Chairman of Committees Selvam Adaikkilanathan, Ministers Kabir Hahsim, Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle, MPs Tilak Marapana, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Dr Nalinda Jayatissa.

Speaker Jayasuriya said: "This is a historic occasion with the MPs in this Parliament entrusted with the task of drafting a new constitution or amending the present one in keeping with the aspirations of the people."

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said that 21 subcommittees would be appointed to assist the process of formulating a new constitution and they would be appointed in the near future.

None of the JVP MPs were present in the Chamber when the Constitutional Assembly met.

The Steering Committee met at Committee Room 3 of the Parliament complex with Prime Minister Wickremesinghe presiding yesterday evening.