Patali, Wijeyadasa and Vijitha nominated for CC

By Chamodi Gunawardana 

Megapolis and Western Province Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and Buddhist Affairs Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe were nominated to the Constitutional Council (CC) on the recommendation of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Both had worked as CC members in previous councils established before the dissolution of the 100-day caretaker Government.  

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday announced that it had nominated its Propaganda Secretary and MP Vijitha Herath to the Constitutional Council.

Issuing a letter on Tuesday, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had asked all major and small parties to nominate representatives from their parties to the CC.

The CC has been recognised as the main component which is being used to establish nine independent commissions and is expected to guide the commissions continuously. The Speaker, Prime Minister and Opposition Leader have the power to nominate MPs to the CC while being permanent members of the council.

The CC will comprise 10 members. Seven should be Parliamentarians and remaining three should be civil organisation representatives. The Speaker, Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader are able to nominate five members and the remainder will be nominated though small parties’ recommendations.