SRI LANKA: PRESIDENT SIRISENA TO PRIORITISE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM OVER TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE.

Image: Members of the CTF with president Sirisena. ( CTF face book photo)

02/02/2017

A face book post by the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms (CTF) after having met president Sirisena says that ” the President clearly stated the prioritisation of Constitutional Reform over Transitional Justice”.

This implies that the Transitional Justice process will take a back seat until new constitution is promulgated. Constitutional reform process has been has become uncertain after SLFP central committee headed by Sirisena himself decided not to go for a constitutional referendum. Further   SLFP CC wants to keep the executive presidency.

Because of these decisions of the SLFP CC constitutional reform process has run in to a crisis.

The members of the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms (CTF) had met with H.E. President Maithripala Sirisena on the 30th of January 2017. There was a frank discussion of the CTF report and the challenges and opportunities with respect to Transitional Justice in Sri Lanka, says the CTF face book post. ‬

‪The president has also talked about the  need to foster support for Transitional Justice amongst all communities.

Mirak Raheem, Prof. Gameela Samarasinghe, Dr. Farzana Haniffa, Prof. Sitralega Maunaguru, Manouri Muttetuwegama, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Visaka Dharmadasa, Gamini Viyangoda, Shantha Abimanasingham (PC) and K.W. Janaranjana‬ were present at the meeting with the president representing the CTF.