Cabinet approves constitutional changes

Rasika SOMARATHNA

A Cabinet paper requesting permission to amend the existing Sri Lankan Constitution, introduced in 1978, was approved by the Cabinet yesterday.

Announcing the decision Acting Mass Media and Communication Minister and Cabinet Spokesman, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene said “the period which our country is presently going through is one in which the Government is seeking to make necessary adjustments to the present ‘administrative and constitutional structure’ of Sri Lanka, to bring about stability to the country.”

He noted that with the conclusion of the war which caused unrest, turmoil, untold hardships to the people and setbacks to economic\development activities, a new era had dawned in.

In this context measures have been introduced by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to develop every part of the country, he added. It has become apparent, to continue the development process, that both administrative and Constitutional changes are required to be made to both the 1978 Constitution (the second Republic Constitution of Sri Lanka) and certain other laws for the time being in force (which are directly attributable to the exercise of certain powers under the Constitution).

Therefore the approval sought from the Cabinet for this purpose by a Cabinet paper presented by Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne was granted approval, he added. According to the Minister the amendments would be done in four stages. Necessary changes to the existing Presidential system, electoral process, certain existing powers and matters related to provincial administration would be sought.

The Minister also hinted that ways for the President to sit in Parliament (an upper chamber of Parliament) along with setting up of a Senate could be in the offing.