New Council to be formed by next Parliament By Maheesha Mudugamuwa The Constitutional Council (CC) meetings would be held as usual despite the resignation of one of its members representing civil society, Dr. Jayanta Dhanapala, until a new council is formed by the next Parliament, according to CC representative and former Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) parliamentarian Bimal Ratnayake. He told The Morning that the vacancy could only be replaced only after the next Parliament is convened and up until then, the Council would meet as usual as the quorum would be completed despite one absentee. Furthermore, Ratnayake said a new CC would be appointed under the new Parliament. As learnt by The Morning, the reason behind Dr. Dhanapala’s resignation was the fact that he resides in Kandy and is unable to attend the meetings on a regular basis. While Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is the Chairman of the CC, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa are appointed to the Council in their official capacities. Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe was appointed the President’s representative, while R. Sampanthan was appointed the Opposition Leader’s representative. Thalatha Atukorala was appointed the Prime Minister’s representative, while MP Bimal Rathnayake was appointed the minority party representative. Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala, Ahmen Javid Yusuf, and Naganathan Selvakumaran are also in the CC, representing civil society. As per the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, it is the duty of the Speaker, as Chairman, to ensure nominations for appointments to the CC-appointed seats (the non-ex officio members) are made, whenever an occasion for such nominations arises. Members can vacate the office by resigning in the form of writing addressed to the President. The President shall, within two weeks, if there is a vacancy of any of the appointed members, appoint another person to succeed that member. The newly-appointed member shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term of his/her predecessor.