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Prez urges minority,  female reps in CC

11 Nov 2022

  • Calls on Parliament to collectively nominate three names, instead of collecting outside applications 
President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday (10) said in Parliament that while appointing civil society nominees to the Constitutional Council (CC), minority communities and women representation would be considered.  “If the Tamil parties make nominations after identifying those who are not members of the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, we could solve the issue of the civil society nominees. Last time, we made appointments from the Tamil community, as well as women. This time, we could have representation from Muslims and if there are no such candidates, we can allow a female again. After that, all the commissions could be appointed soon which could then continue smoothly. Therefore, I request all to assist in this endeavour,” he added. He also noted: “I would like to say that the 17th, 19th, and 21st Amendments to the Constitution were passed by both the Government and the Opposition on those occasions. We have to set up the Constitutional Council. There is seemingly one issue which is not an issue about the appointment of civil members to the Constitutional Council. They are nominated by the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader and attested to by the Speaker.  “How could Parliament oppose them? If they opposed it, the Premier and the Opposition Leader would have no support from the Government side and the Opposition side, respectively, and the Speaker would have no support from the entirety of Parliament. It is a scenario in which all three should resign. It was the same practice in the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. It’s a procedural event. So, let us have their names. I told the Prime Minister too. Let's talk it over with the Speaker and get three names.”  Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told The Morning earlier that applications will be called to appoint three civil society members to the Constitutional Council. “I think we might have to call for applications to appoint civil society members to the Constitutional Council. We have to call for applications and see. We will try to get the best out of the applications,” he added.  


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