Catholic Bishops’ Conference requests govt. to discuss new Constitution

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka requested the government not to proceed with amending the 13^th amendment but to discuss with all relevant parties on drawing up a totally new Constitution which is fair by all communities.

The 13^thAmendment of the National Constitution is a system that by large allows the greater participation of the people in the matter of governance, a statement from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka read.

In the statement signed by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the organization stated that even though the 13^th amendment may not be perfect, at this moment Sri Lanka is striving to make permanent the hard won peace and that pondering on this constitutional provision may lead to over centralization of authority and to international meddling in the internal affairs of this country.

It claimed that the problem in the North is a national question for which the solution is to be found by the local political leadership of both Sinhala and Tamil communities. The organization added that it is not convinced that careful study of all factors along with the broad based consultations of the different political parties and civil society groups are being conducted before any changes are made.

It therefore advised the government not to proceed with the with the proposed amendment to the 13^thamendment or to its total repeal but to discuss with all parties, especially through the Parliamentary Select Committee and think about a totally new Constitution which would guarantee justice, peace and prosperity for all citizens of the country regardless of their ethnic, religious or social differences.