Panel of Experts views to be presented to CA

Friday, 26 October 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Expert opinions to be presented as second interim report

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

The Steering Committee decided at yesterday’s meeting to table a special report at the Constitutional Assembly, which sits at the main chamber of Parliament, on 7 November, including views by the Panel of Experts.

According to Steering Committee sources, the report will contain the recently gathered opinion of the Panel of Experts and will be presented as the second interim report, a part of the extensive process of drafting a new Constitution for the country.

In terms of Clause 5(a) of the framework resolution for the Constitutional Assembly, a Steering Committee consisting of 21 members represented by political parties represented in Parliament was established and the first sitting took place on 5 April 2016. The principal mandate of the Steering Committee is to present a draft constitutional proposal for Sri Lanka.

At the second meeting of the Steering Committee held on 28 April 2016, it was resolved that a Management Committee should be appointed to make arrangements and facilitate the work of the Steering Committee, subcommittees and all secretarial work including staff requirements.

Accordingly, MP Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, MP M.A. Sumanthiran, the Chief of Staff, Deputy Secretary General of Parliament and Secretary to the Steering Committee Neil Iddawala, Secretary to the Leader of the House of Parliament Naufel Abdul-Rahman and Additional Secretary (Legal Affairs) to the Prime Minister Bimba Jayasinghe Tillekeratne PC were appointed as members of the Management Committee.The Panel of Experts was established based on nominations from different political parties on the Steering Committee. The contributions of the Panel of Experts include academic and technical input at committee deliberations, the submission of position papers in respect to subjects under discussion and the provision of general expertise. Prof. Suri Ratnapala, Prof. Austin Pulle, Prof. A.M. Navaratna Bandara, N. Selvakkumaran, Prof. Camena Gunaratne, Prof. Kapila Perera, Suren Fernando, Niran Ankatell, Asoka Gunawardena and Chamindry Saparamadu are the members of the Panel of Experts.