National Executive Council holds first meeting to implement President’s 100-day plan
Saturday, 17 January 2015 02:57
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The National Executive Council, set up to strengthen democracy, met for the first time Thursday at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss the necessary reforms proposed in President Maithripala Sirisena’s 100-day plan and how to implement them.
The National Executive Council has been set up inclusive of representatives of parties represented in Parliament as well as civil society organisations.
President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, JHU Leader Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, Democratic Party Leader Sarath Fonseka, and All Ceylon Muslim Congress Leader Minister Rishad Bathiudeen had attended the first meeting.
Speaking to media following the meeting Dissanayake said the meeting was successful.
The Council has discussed in length the Constitutional reforms needed and the timetable according to which the changes will be tabled at the Parliament and agreed on most of the Constitutional reforms, Dissanayake said.
The Council has also discussed other legislations such as the Right to Information Act and the National Pharmaceutical Policy Act proposed by the 100 day program.
The Council has also paid attention to bring those who were accused of frauds, mismanagement and corruption to justice swiftly, the JVP Leader said.
It also discussed on establishing an institution to prevent such malpractices from taking place in the future, especially through an empowered Commission of Auditing.
In the President’s 100-day plan, the Council was called the National Advisory Council but the name has been changed to National Executive Council to ensure the implementation of the program within the stipulated 100 days of time.
The JVP and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has said they will not accept portfolios and join the Government, but will participate in the National Executive Council to implement the 100-day program and bring about the promised change by President Sirisena.
