• Talks underway between Speaker/PM/Sajith, shortlist of 50 being further shortlisted

While applications are still being processed for the vacancies of the three civil society non-Parliamentary members to the Constitutional Council (CC), discussions are ongoing between the Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Prime Minister (PM) Dinesh Gunawardena, and Leader of the Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya Sajith Premadasa, to appoint a female representative and an ethnic minority representative to the CC, Parliamentary sources told The Morning.

A meeting in this regard had been held on Tuesday (13) and is also scheduled to be held today (15), the sources said yesterday (14).

“The meeting between Abeywardana, Gunawardena, and Premadasa held on Tuesday was inconclusive. There are several concerns, including the need for female representation in the CC and ethnic minority representation as well. So, there should be some accommodation along those lines. Hence, they are working on these. A meeting will be held tomorrow too, and conclusions will probably be drawn over the upcoming days”

Speaking further, the sources observed: “Selecting these three civil society non-Parliamentary members is vital because we cannot discriminate against minorities or on the basis of gender because they too should be represented. We have to take these factors into account. The candidates should also be suitable as we cannot appoint just anybody. Another challenge is unanimity in the appointment with no objections. The Speaker and the others want to have unanimity in the decision, rather than having it in a majority”.

When The Morning also queried into the status of the short-listing of the applicants, sources noted that out of a total of 80 applications received, nearly 50 applicants have been chosen for the second round of short-listing. “They will be shortlisted further. It might take a few weeks to finalise”.

Last month, Parliamentary sources noted that around 80 applications had been received for the vacancies for the three civil society non-Parliamentary members in the CC. Sources stated that while the short-listing of the applications was underway, the process was taking place at a slow pace owing to the 2023 Budget reading that was ongoing at the time. The call for applications for the three civil society members concluded on 28 November.

Speaking to The Morning recently, Abeywardana stated that the reconstitution of the independent Commissions will proceed with the appointment of the three civil society non-Parliamentary members to the CC, even if the pending nominees from the President, the Opposition, the Government, and the smaller parties of the Opposition, are not appointed.

On 29 November, Gunawardena announced that Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Parliamentarian and Attorney Sagara Kariyawasam as the Government representative for the CC. However, representatives of the Opposition, the President and the smaller parties are still pending.