- Vasu, Wimal, and Udaya oppose Basil’s New Fortress Energy cabinet paper
- Basil meets the three ministers with Attygalle and Ferdinando to explain
- Prez and PM take firm stance against Lohan and accept resignation
- G.L. articulates firm stance at UNHRC against Yahapalana commitments
- Core Group, EU call on SL to co-operate with UN human rights inquiries
- With Prez and PM overseas, Speaker becomes ranking official on the island
As predicted, Sri Lanka was in the international spotlight last week following the oral update on Sri Lanka by United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, with the UK, representing the Core Group, the European Union (EU), and Japan speaking in support of the concerns raised by Bachelet.
However, Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris gave a clear indication to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that the Government, led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, while addressing certain issues raised in UNHRC Resolution 46/1 on Sri Lanka, would not permit any form of external interventions in the country.
Nevertheless, the 48th Session of the UNHRC took a backseat in Sri Lanka due to several incidents that took place last week.
Starting from the alleged threat to detainees under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (PTA) at the Anuradhapura Prison by then State Minister of Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation Lohan Ratwatte last Sunday (12) evening to the passage of a controversial cabinet paper that had resulted in three Cabinet Ministers raising objections in writing, there is never a dull moment in local politics.
Reports first surfaced recently of Ratwatte visiting the Welikada Prison with a few friends to see the gallows. It was reported that Ratwatte was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the visit.
Media reports, however, refrained from naming Ratwatte, but referred to a “drunken minister”.
Ratwatte’s name was first reported in a news report in The Morning last week following his alleged threat to PTA detainees at the Anuradhapura Prison last Sunday. MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) took to social media last Monday (13), condemning the State Minister’s actions and calling on the authorities to take action.
With reports of the prison break being highlighted in the mainstream media, Prime Minister Rajapaksa, who at the time was in Italy, had called Ratwatte and asked him to immediately step down. The Prime Minister had also called the President and said that Ratwatte needed to be removed from the portfolio.
Hearing reports of Ratwatte’s prison saga, the President had requested intelligence units to submit a report immediately on the alleged incident at the prison. The President had requested for reports on the two incidents – one at the Welikada Prison and the other at the Anuradhapura Prison.
After receiving the intelligence reports, the President understood the exact details of the incidents that had taken place at the prison.
The President had informed several senior government ministers that he would not tolerate such actions of members of the Government.
It was in this backdrop that Ratwatte had called and apologised to the President over the alleged incidents and news reports. Ratwatte had then offered to resign from the post of State Minister of Prison Management and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation.
The President had responded saying that it was what needed to be done, as he (the President) would have anyway sacked him (Ratwatte).
President Rajapaksa had also noted that a committee would be appointed to conduct an inquiry into Ratwatte’s conduct and necessary action in this regard would be taken upon the Prime Minister’s return to the country.
Last Wednesday (15), Ratwatte made public a letter that on the surface seemed like a letter of resignation but left a lot of room for interpretation.
In the letter, Ratwatte had explained that there had been media reports of an incident that had taken place in prison, and he had decided to step down from his post as State Minister of Prisons in order to prevent the Government from facing any difficulties.
However, in the letter, after saying he had decided to resign from the prisons portfolio, Ratwatte had asked for the President’s recommendation.
Angry at Ratwatte’s alleged threat to the detainees and his actions that had brought shame on the Government, President Rajapaksa immediately accepted the letter. Not stopping at that, the Presidential Secretariat also issued a statement to the media noting that Ratwatte had accepted responsibility for the incidents that had taken place within the prison premises and had tendered his resignation and that the President had accepted it.
However, Ratwatte continues to deny the incident at the Anuradhapura Prison and claimed he had visited the prison as part of his routine visits, and that as the minister in charge at the time, he had the right to visit the prison at any time he wished.
While the actions of the President and Prime Minister against Ratwatte were commendable, Ratwatte still remains a state minister of the Government, as he holds the portfolio of State Minister of Gem and Jewellery.
Meanwhile, several complaints were lodged against Ratwatte’s actions at the prison before the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekera ordered the CID to conduct an investigation into the complaints.
Interestingly, the PTA detainees at the Anuradhapura Prison had requested to meet Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Namal Rajapaksa to express their grievances.
Namal visited the Anuradhapura Prison last Thursday (16) and discussed the issues faced by the detainees and assured that he would work to ensure their release.
Letters of objection
Meanwhile, the Government was last week reminded of an issue over good governance practices in relation to a cabinet paper that was submitted by Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa.
Three Cabinet Ministers – namely, Vasudeva Nanyakkara, Wimal Weerawansa, and Udaya Gammanpila – last week submitted three separate letters to the Cabinet of Ministers over a cabinet paper presented by Basil on the Yugadanavi Power Station in Kerawalapitiya.
The ministers were first displeased by the manner in which Basil had presented the relevant cabinet paper out of the meeting’s agenda that day.
The cabinet paper proposed the divesting of the 40% stake in the Yugadanavi Power Station held by the Treasury to US-based New Fortress Energy Inc.
Interestingly, many cabinet ministers were unaware till last week that the relevant cabinet paper was passed at the meeting on the 6th.
It is learnt that Basil had presented the cabinet paper after the meeting had concluded discussing all official matters and had even fixed the next date for the meeting. Most ministers were in the process of leaving the Zoom meeting (cabinet meetings are currently held via Zoom in line with Covid-19 health guidelines) when Basil had presented the cabinet paper.
The ministers were not aware of the content of the paper since they had not received a copy of it earlier, as is usually done with other cabinet papers.
Basil’s Yugadanavi cabinet paper now stands as having received cabinet approval, with the minutes of the meeting being approved at last Monday’s (13) meeting.
However, Nanyakkara, Weerawansa, and Gammanpila had, in writing, expressed their objections to the manner in which the relevant cabinet paper was adopted as well as concerns over issues that had arisen as a result of awarding the deal to New Fortress Energy.
The ministers had noted that it was the first time in cabinet history that a key cabinet paper was presented out of the meeting’s agenda and pushed through without the cabinet ministers being aware of the document’s content.
The three ministers had written three separate letters more or less outlining the same issues.
Other issues raised by the ministers were the monopoly that would be created in the supply of natural gas due to the deal and the violation of good governance principles, since the Yugadanavi deal had been awarded to a party outside the tender procedure.
During last Monday’s cabinet meeting, Basil had noted the objections raised by the three ministers and stated that he would personally meet with them and discuss the concerns raised by them.
Accordingly, Basil had requested the three ministers for a meeting at the Finance Ministry on Friday (17) afternoon.
Nanayakkara, Weerawansa, and Gammanpila made their way to the Finance Ministry for the meeting scheduled at 1.30 p.m. on Friday. The Finance Minister was accompanied by Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle and Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando.
Interestingly, neither Minister of Power Gamini Lokuge nor State Minister of Renewable Energy Duminda Dissanayake were present at the meeting.
At the outset of the meeting, Basil had acknowledged the concerns and issues raised by the three ministers, and had explained the ongoing financial crisis in the country and the need for dollar inflows to the country.
Attygalle and Ferdinando had made a presentation to the three ministers and had also pointed out the need to improve the country’s dollar reserves.
The proposed deal with New Fortress is to bring in $ 250 million to the state coffers.
Basil had then noted that the prices quoted by New Fortress were anyway less than the amounts quoted by the parties that submitted tenders.
When the three ministers had pointed out that the tender conditions were different to those in the proposed deal, Basil had observed that there was an urgent need to carry out the quick transformation of diesel power plants into liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Anura slams Sajith
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa was asked to get a “head examination” by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Dissanayake made this comment in response to Premadasa’s statement that the Government should resign and hold a snap general election immediately.
He said the Government should resign, as it had failed to pull the country from bankruptcy.
“This Government has created an era of queues once again with its policy of closing the economy. Sri Lanka is unable to settle its debts. This is simply called bankruptcy. (The) Government had pushed this nation towards bankruptcy. Therefore, it should resign and give the people the opportunity of electing a new government of its choice. People want a new government which is capable of reviving the economy,” Premadasa said, adding: “We in (the) SJB have (the) expertise to revive the economy. (The) Government should resign forthwith. (The) people have tolerated enough.”
Dissanayake, in response to Premadasa’s statement, said it was “utterly immature and irresponsible”.
He further noted that this was not an appropriate time to conduct an election.
Hit hard
On the issue of Sri Lanka’s human rights record, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Bachelet presented an oral update on Sri Lanka on the opening day of the 48th Session of the UNHRC.
Bachelet last Monday said that the continued surveillance, intimidation, and judicial harassment of human rights defenders, journalists, and families of the disappeared in Sri Lanka had now broadened to include students, academics, medical professionals, and religious leaders who are critical of the Government.
“I note with interest President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s recent meeting with certain civil society leaders, and I encourage broader dialogue and steps to open up Sri Lanka’s civic space. Regrettably, surveillance, intimidation, and the judicial harassment of human rights defenders, journalists, and families of the disappeared has not only continued, but has broadened to a wider spectrum of students, academics, medical professionals, and religious leaders critical of government policies. Several peaceful protests and commemorations have been met with the excessive use of force and the arrest or detention of demonstrators in quarantine centres,” she noted.
Bachelet urged the Government to publicise the new regulations concerning civil society, which are currently being drafted, as there are widespread fears that they will further restrict fundamental freedoms.
She raised concerns over the new state emergency regulations that were imposed at the end of August “amid a deepening recession”, and stressed that her office would be closely monitoring their application since they have the potential to “further expand the role of the military in civilian functions”.
Commenting on the ongoing investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks, she said: “The victims of the Easter Sunday bombings in 2019 and religious leaders continue to call urgently for truth and justice, and a full account of the circumstances that permitted those attacks.”
Bachelet focused on the continued detention of Attorney-at-Law Hejaaz Hizbullah and teacher and poet Ahnaf Jazeem under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 48 of 1979, and urged an immediate moratorium on its use, adding that a clear timeline needs to be formulated for its comprehensive review or repeal.
“In June, 16 prisoners who had been convicted under the problematic PTA, and who were nearing the end of their sentences, were pardoned. An Advisory Board has been established to which detainees under the Act can apply for their cases to be reviewed, and I urge a speedy resolution to these long-standing cases,” Bachelet said.
Similarly, Bachelet raised concerns about the new “de-radicalisation” regulations which were issued in March this year.
“They permit the arbitrary administrative detention of individuals for up to two years without trial. I note that the Supreme Court has issued an interim stay order on their enforcement while it considers fundamental rights petitions to challenge the decree. The Government has also proscribed or listed over 300 Tamil and Muslim groups and individuals for alleged links to terrorist groups,” she noted.
“I urge Member States to ensure that the budget process provides the necessary support so that my office can fully implement this work. I encourage council members to continue paying close attention to developments in Sri Lanka, and to seek credible progress in advancing reconciliation, accountability, and human rights.”
Meanwhile, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence Fabian Salvioli had informed the UNHRC last week that Sri Lanka had witnessed a profound deterioration in its human rights situation over the past 18 months.
He had further stated that there had been insufficient progress in relation to the search for the truth, and the flagrant setback in the areas of accountability, memory, and guarantees of non-repetition.
The Special Rapporteur had added that the situation jeopardises the transitional justice process in Sri Lanka.
No external initiatives
Responding to Bachelet’s statement, Foreign Minister Prof. Peiris said last Tuesday (14) that the Sri Lankan Government rejected any external initiatives established by Resolution 46/1, which was adopted at the Council earlier this year, as it will polarise the Sri Lankan society.
“We reject the proposal for any external initiatives purportedly established by Resolution 46/1 while domestic processes are vigorously addressing the relevant matters. This will polarise our society, as we experienced with Resolution 30/1,” said Prof. Peiris.
Resolution 30/1 was adopted in 2015 by the UNHRC, by the previous United National Front (UNF)-led Government, where it was agreed to establish a judicial process which would include foreign legal personnel to promote reconciliation and accountability on human rights violations which allegedly occurred during the civil war years.
Prof. Peiris, however, informed the UNHRC that it must adhere to its founding principles and said that external initiatives embarked without the co-operation of the relevant state in question cannot lead to the achievement of their goals and are subject to politicisation.
He added that resources spent on the Sri Lankan initiative are unwarranted, especially when taking into consideration the “urgent need for humanitarian and other constructive purposes in many parts of the world”.
Prof. Peiris said that under the pressing challenges that had arisen as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, “it is a basic duty of a government to ensure the uninterrupted supply of commodities essential to the life of the community”.
“We are open in acknowledging our challenges, and as a responsible and democratic government, we are committed to achieving tangible progress on the entire range of issues relating to accountability, reconciliation, human rights, peace, and sustainable development,” he added.
The Minister further stated that the cabinet subcommittee appointed to revisit the PTA to bring it in line with international norms will submit its report to the Cabinet of Ministers at the end of this month.
“An Advisory Board was appointed to look into cases of detention under the PTA and to make recommendations to deal with such cases expeditiously. The speedy disposal of cases under the PTA is also taking place,” he added.
Referring to other domestic processes implemented by the Government to ensure accountability and reconciliation, he said: “The Office on Missing Persons (OMP) is finalising the list of missing persons in collaboration with other agencies. The Office for Reparations (OR) has processed 3,775 claims this year. The Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) continues its eight-point action plan. The National Human Rights Commission is carrying out its mandate. A Commission of Inquiry (CoI) headed by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court was established to address issues on accountability and missing persons and to revisit recommendations by previous commissions. The CoI submitted its interim report to the President. The final report will be submitted within the next six months.”
Prof. Peiris claimed that in the 12 years since Sri Lanka eradicated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorist organisation, peace, stability, and security had been restored, and the country had continuously adhered to democratic traditions.
“We held firm to our democratic traditions and elections were held at regular intervals with high levels of voter participation – most recently, at the 2019 presidential and 2020 parliamentary polls. The Government is committed to holding the provincial council (PC) elections at the earliest. We are dealing with post-conflict recovery from the perspective of healing. Most recently, 16 LTTE cadres convicted of serious terrorist crimes were granted presidential pardons. The success of post-conflict demining, reconstruction, and resettlement programmes has contributed immensely to national reconciliation.”
Core Group dismayed
Meanwhile, UK Ambassador to the UN and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva Simon Manley, in his statement last Tuesday on behalf of the Core Group on Sri Lanka at the 48th UNHRC Session, said that they were disappointed to see a regression of the limited progress made on accountability on key emblematic cases.
“Recent developments in the case involving the disappearance of 11 youths in the 2008-2009 period are of particular concern,” Manley said.
Manley made these comments in reference to Attorney General (AG) President’s Counsel Sanjay Rajaratnam’s recent decision to temporarily hold proceedings of the charges against former Navy Commander and Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda. The Court of Appeal had issued an interim order halting the hearing of the charges levelled against him in connection with a writ petition filed by Karannagoda. Karannagoda was named as a defendant in the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar case filed against a group of naval intelligence officers pertaining to the alleged abduction and enforced disappearance of 11 youths in Colombo in 2008 and 2009.
Manley also called on the Sri Lankan Government to ensure the political independence of the OMP and the Office for Reparations.
Commenting on the PTA, Manley urged the Government to bring its counter-terrorism legislation in line with international human rights obligations and raised concerns over the continued detention of human rights lawyer Hizbullah and poet Jazeem under the Act.
“We call on Sri Lanka to co-operate fully with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, and remain ready to support the Government on the implementation of Resolution 46/1,” Manley stressed.
The Core Group on Sri Lanka comprises Canada, Germany, North Macedonia, Malawi, Montenegro, and the UK.
The EU, meanwhile, urged Sri Lanka’s engagement with the UNHRC on Resolution 46/1 and the need for continued efforts for reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in line with the Resolution.
The EU expressed regret over the Sri Lankan Government’s decision to no longer support the UN framework to address the legacy of the past conflict, to ensure acknowledgements for victims, and to foster accountability, reconciliation, and human rights.
The EU also noted the declared intent of the Government of Sri Lanka to maintain a sustainable reconciliation process, including by ensuring the effective work of the OMP and the Office for Reparations, and called on the Government to implement its commitments in that regard and to guarantee the independence of these institutions.
In the statement, the EU stressed on the importance of amending the PTA, bringing it in line with international norms and human rights standards.
The EU also reiterated that a fully empowered, resilient, and inclusive civil society as well as independent media are crucial for democracy.
The EU encouraged the Government of Sri Lanka to remain engaged with the UN in relation to Resolution 46/1, as well as with international partners, and will continue to support Sri Lanka’s efforts in this regard as well as with a view to further strengthen the dialogue on governance, rule of law, devolution, and human rights.
Japan also weighed in at the UNHRC Session, stating that there was room for improvement in Sri Lanka on the human rights issue.
The Japanese also underscored the importance of Sri Lanka continuing to take voluntary actions.
“With respect to Sri Lanka, while there is room for improvement in the areas of national reconciliation and human rights, we understand that the Government is taking various measures including investigation by the Commission of Inquiry and payment of compensation. It is important that Sri Lanka continues to take voluntary actions and the international community supports Sri Lanka in this effort,” Ambassador Ken Okaniwa stated last Tuesday.
Pressure on Core Group
Prior to the commencement of the UNHRC sessions last Monday, several Tamil political parties called on Core Group members to go beyond Resolution 46/1 to address the issues faced by the country.
Accordingly, the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) and the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) last week called on the Core Group for more action.
TNPF President G.G. Ponnambalam and General Secretary S. Kajendren had issued the letter highlighting that Resolution 46/1 was highly problematic.
The TNPF and the ACTC pointed out that, as Tamil leaders, they were disappointed with the Resolution, stating that it did not even meet the basic expectations of the Tamil victims, especially in relation to international accountability for alleged grave violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law.
The two minority parties also highlighted concerns over the Resolution’s framing of issues, which they claim was highly problematic, as those issues were not accurately portrayed in terms of the political context.
“Six months have lapsed since the passing of Resolution 46/1 on Sri Lanka. In these six months, every single warning that we alluded to was proven to be true,” the letter noted.
In the letter, they pointed out that the Tamil political prisoners continue to languish in jail without charge or trial. This was even after key ministers, including the Minister of Justice, stated that the law under which these prisoners had been detained – the PTA – is unjust and needed to be, at the very least, amended.
The two parties also urged the Core Group to refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and establish an independent mechanism to inquire into crimes, including crimes of genocide. In the letter, both parties also requested to appoint a UN Special Rapporteur to report on ongoing violations in Sri Lanka and the establishment of field offices of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the North and East.
“We pointed out that the matter being brought to the UN Security Council (UNSC) in itself would bring attention and urgency to Sri Lanka’s chronic evasion of accountability, and hence we urged that the Core Group signal their intention to bring forth a resolution to the UNSC for ICC referral without further delay,” the letter read.
Continuous violations
Meanwhile, a total of 10 religious and civil society leaders had written to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Bachelet claiming that, despite the adoption of UNHRC Resolution 46/1, the Government of Sri Lanka had continued to commit human rights violations against minorities, especially those who engage in peaceful protests.
The group, led by Pottuvil to Polikandy (P2P) Movement Co-ordinators Velan Swamigal and Kandaiah Jagathas, had alleged that women were also being harassed by the Government’s actions.
“The leaders of the P2P march, held in February this year, are continuously harassed by State Intelligence officers, under the guise of ‘inquiry’. Leaders of peaceful protests of families of the disappeared and other victims, most of whom are women, are also harassed by State Intelligence officers, some of whom visit their households at night,” the letter stated.
The leaders had further claimed that families of the disappeared encounter numerous challenges with the OMP, as military personnel had been appointed to it by the Government, whilst ignoring numerous calls to appoint credible international experts on disappearances to its positions.
“The OMP, set up to address the disappearances, is used by successive governments to distract from the plight of the disappeared,” the letter added.
A similar memo sent by the Association for Relatives of the Enforced Disappeared (North and East) had noted that the OMP is “completely inactive” and had accused the Government of trying to “dilute” the issue by paying the families of victims compensation instead of investigating into the cause of the disappearances and finding out who the guilty party was.
The letter by the 10 civil society and religious leaders had brought attention to the plight of Tamil political prisoners held under the PTA and the issue of land-grabbing in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
“Several government departments, including the Mahaweli Authority, the Department of Archaeology, and the Department of Wildlife Conservation, are used by this Government to grab land which traditionally belonged to the Tamil people.”
Extremist ideologies
While Sri Lanka was in the spotlight at the UNHRC, Prime Minister Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Prof. Peiris last week expressed the Government’s stance on extremism and extremist ideologies.
Addressing the G20 Interfaith Forum in Bologna, Italy, Prime Minister Rajapaksa noted that extremist ideologies and the violence associated with it represent one of the most serious challenges of our time.
The Prime Minister recalled the tragic events of 9/11 and shared a deep sense of grief with the families of victims of this outrage.
“This is a reminder of the need for eternal vigilance against all forms of terrorist action, whoever be the offenders and whatever be their professed aims and purposes,” the Prime Minister said.
Speaking on reconciliation, he said: “Reconciliation is a critical need of our time. Conflicts and escalating tensions are all too evident around us. Peace and stability come from healthy relationships with all who live in our countries, including those with whom we have deep disagreements.”
Prime Minister Rajapaksa also identified that young minds are impressionable, and it is during the childhood years that there is the greatest chance to develop the right attitudes and values.
“While there are clearly differences embedded in the substance of different religions, there is also a core of beliefs and convictions that are common to all religions,” he explained.
Accordingly, it was noted that it is the duty of policymakers and educationists, through the curriculum and methods of teaching in our schools and universities, to emphasise what all religions share.
“Sri Lanka is trying its best to adopt a balanced approach to human development. While progress on economic issues is necessary to support rapidly growing populations, this cannot be done at the expense of the environment,” the Prime Minister expressed.
Also speaking at the same summit, Foreign Minister Prof. Peiris expressed that political parties that profess overtly to be ethnic or religious in character and complexion were a critical problem with regard to the formulation of foreign policy.
“There is no need for such parties to detach themselves from the national policy by the formation and emergence of political groupings that are sectarian. This is hugely detrimental to the solidarity and unity of our countries,” he stated.
The Minister also noted that in Sri Lanka, minority communities had reached the pinnacle of political power as members of national political parties, while adding that this had not inhibited their rise within the democratic system.
It was also mentioned that any enlightened foreign policy had to be based upon the concept of mature nationhood.
“Foreign policy is an extension of domestic policy. You cannot do it in an acrimonious and divided way,” he said.
While adding that Sri Lanka is a country where different parts of the nation speak different languages and hail from a multitude of cultural backgrounds, the Minister remarked that education plays a key role in bridging this gap.
“Different ethnic communities are being compartmentalised. There is hardly any opportunity for young people to get to know each other because of languages. Education and a link language play a key role,” Prof. Peiris highlighted.
Constitution-making
Meanwhile, the Government seems to be moving forward in its endeavour to draft a new constitution, with the Expert Committee appointed to draft the new constitution being granted a three-month extension to submit the final draft to President Rajapaksa.
However, it is learnt that an initial draft was being studied by the Legal Draftsman’s Department.
With the extension given to the Expert Committee, it is believed that the final draft of the proposed new constitution would be submitted by December to the President.
The Expert Committee is chaired by Romesh de Silva PC and includes Gamini Marapana PC, Manohara De Silva PC, Sanjeewa Jayawardena PC, Samantha Ratwatte PC, Prof. Naazima Kamardeen, Dr. A. Sarveswaran, Prof. Wasantha Seneviratne, and Prof. Peiris. The nine-member committee to draft the new constitution was approved by the Cabinet in September last year.
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had sought a meeting with the President to discuss the proposed new constitution. The President is yet to grant an appointment to the TNA.