Parliament updates on establishment of National Constitutional Council

A meeting has been held under the auspices of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to discuss matters pertaining to the establishment of the National Constitutional Council. 

A statement from the Parliament noted that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, and the President’s nominee Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva participated in the meeting. 

During the meeting that was held this week, the Speaker emphasised the requirement to establish the Constitutional Council at the earliest. 

The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition had agreed to forward the nominations of the Members of Parliament to the Speaker, as stated in the provisions of the Constitution without delay. 

It also noted that it was agreed to publish a newspaper advertisement calling for applications to appoint three persons who are not Members of Parliament, as Members of the Constitutional Council and provide the interested parties, a period of two weeks to submit their applications. 

The advertisement will be published on both weekday and weekend newspapers and the format for the application will be published on the Official Web Site of Parliament.