The Professionals’ National Front (PNF) has taken it upon itself to organize a public commission to help the government deliver on the people’s views to the new constitution. The PNF notes that ‘until now, only a few legal experts and NGOs serving foreign interests have participated in legislation. Therefore, the opportunity has arisen to obtain a new pro-people constitution for the country.’
Secretary PNF Engineer Kapila Renuka Perera said that as with ETCA and MCC, the broader organizations to which he is associated have always looked to improve transparency in the legislative process.
The Professionals National Front expressed these views on August 19 at the Organisation of Professional Associations to which it is affiliated.
Dr. Sarada Kannangara said that the 1978 constitution was drafted by foreigners and in the interest of concentrating power with certain individuals. Dr. Kannagara noted that the PNF will continue to act as a pressure group in the interests of the broader population.
The PNF has not yet studied the Port City Agreement. Dr. Kannagara said that their organization is not opposed to foreign workers even in the healthcare sector so long as they do not harm professionals currently working in the country.
President’s Counsel Maura Gunawansha said that in the previous government a small group of people could enter the country to the MCC agreement. Gunawansha was also concerned by the establishment of certain legal frameworks regarding human rights that were harmful to the nation.
Gunawansha said that Lal Wijenaike was welcome to submit his opinions to the commission being set up, but that Sri Lanka did not need Oxford-educated people with a foreign world view telling it what to do. Gunawansha noted that the current government was given a specific mandate to change the constitution and that this could not be refuted.
