brand logo

Ready for Interim Government, President tells Mahanayakes

26 Apr 2022

  • New Constitution’s final draft to be given to Cabinet/Parliament
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has informed the Mahanayakes (Chief Prelates) of the three main Buddhist Sects in the country that he is willing to move forward with an interim government. “On a number of previous occasions, the Chief Prelates of the three Sects (Amarapura, Ramanna, and Siam [Asgiri and Malwathu Chapters]) wrote to the President and the Government about the crisis in the country and our proposals on how to move forward with it. In his response to us, the President has informed us that he is willing to consider an interim rule,” Asgiri Chapter Registrar Ven. Dr. Medagama Dhammananda Thera told the media yesterday (25). The monk added that the President has also briefed them on other measures taken to resolve the economic crisis, including about the ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “He has also informed us about proposed constitutional amendments and the need to carry them out through the Parliament,” said Dhammananda Thera. The President had also noted in the letter that once the final draft of the new Constitution is received from the Committee on Constitutional Reform, it will first be sent to the Cabinet of Ministers and then to Parliament. “The Committee has been holding lengthy consultations with various political parties, groups, and experts over a period of about two years, and is preparing a draft for a new Constitution. The Committee has also informed me that the draft is being finalised. I respectfully inform you that the draft prepared in this manner will be submitted to the Cabinet as soon as it is received and then will be presented to the Parliament upon approval. I would also like to inform you that a copy of that draft will be sent to you all as well,” the President had said in the letter. Meanwhile, Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath, in a statement, said yesterday that the report of the Committee on Constitutional Reform was received by the President. “The President would like to express his sincere appreciation to the Chairman and Members of the Committee for their valuable work reflecting sustained commitment and dedication. The contents of the report will be considered in depth by the Government with a view to determining further measures to be taken,” said the statement. The nine-member expert committee was appointed in September 2020. Led by President’s Counsel (PC) Romesh De Silva, its other Members include Gamini Marapana PC, Manohara De Silva PC, Sanjeewa Jayawardena PC, Samantha Ratwatte PC, Dr. A .Sarveswaran, Prof. Wasantha Seneviratne, and Prof. G.H. Peiris. The Chief Prelates wrote to the President on 20 April, where they noted that the public are suffering due to insensitive decisions taken by political leaders. Whilst stating that the current crisis cannot be solved by merely appointing a new Cabinet of Ministers, the Chief Prelates have also expressed regret over the President disregarding the proposals that they had submitted on 4 April 2022 regarding the provision of immediate relief measures to the people. Furthermore, the Chief Prelates called on all political party representatives to repeal the 20th Amendment to the Constitution and to bring back the necessary provisions that were included in the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.


More News..