Parliament convenes as a Constitutional Assembly
April 5, 2016 01:59 pm
The Constitutional Assembly convened for the first time at the Parliament today (05), for the purpose of formulating a new Constitution for Sri Lanka.
The resolution for the appointment of the Constitutional Assembly was passed in Parliament, a short while ago, with amendment and without a vote on march 09, 2016.
The Constitutional Assembly was appointed for the purpose of deliberating and seeking the views and advice of the people on a new Constitution for Sri Lanka and preparing a draft of a Constitution Bill for the consideration of Parliament.
The Constitutional Assembly, which will consist of all the Members of Parliament, at its first sitting will determine the Sub-Committees that will work on the Constitution-making process and elect members to those Sub-Committees.
It will meet in the Chamber of Parliament with Speaker Karu Jayasuriya presiding over the same. The Constitutional Assembly will also appoint a Steering Committee, consisting of the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Leader of the House, the Minister of Justice and not more than eleven other members.
The Prime Minister is at this meeting expected to present a resolution for adoption by the Constitutional Assembly, calling upon the Steering Committee to present a resolution proposing a Draft Constitution Bill for the consideration of the Constitutional Assembly.
The Speaker of Parliament shall be the Chairman of the Constitutional Assembly while there will be seven Deputy Chairmen of the Constitutional Assembly, who shall be elected by the Constitutional Assembly.
There shall be Constitutional Advisors to the Constitutional Assembly, a Legal Secretary to the Constitutional Assembly and assistants to such Legal Secretary.
There will be Sub-Committees of the Constitutional Assembly such as the Steering Committee consisting of the Prime Minister (Chairman), Leader of the House of Parliament, Leader of the Opposition, the Minister of Justice, and not more than seventeen other Members of the Constitutional Assembly to be appointed by the Constitutional Assembly.
The Steering Committee shall be responsible for the business of the Constitutional Assembly and for preparing a Draft of a new Constitution for Sri Lanka.
