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Group led by Karu seeks to resurrect Yahapalana constitutional proposals

Published

1 year ago

2025/02/13

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Chairman of the Public Representations Committee on Constitutional Reforms (PRCCR) Lal Wijenayake yesterday (12) said that former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, in his current capacity as the Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ), intended to initiate a dialogue with the National People’s Power (NPP) government to explore the possibility of advancing the constitutional proposals unveiled during the Yahapalana administration.

The Cabinet, headed by President Maithripala Sirisena, appointed the PRCCR on 22 Dec., 2015.

Attorney-at-law Wijenayake said that they recently discussed the constitutional proposals that were available for the NPP government’s consideration. “Having met at Jayasuriya’s residence, we reached consensus that the former Speaker should write to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in this regard,” Wijenayake told The Island.

Noting that President Dissanayake serves as the leader of both the Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna (JVP) and the NPP, Wijenayake emphasized that Premier Dr. Harini Amarasuriya had been a member of the PRCCR. Therefore, the NPP government could comfortably handle the constitutional proposals prepared following a countrywide public consultations at the onset of Yahapalana administration (2015-2019), the civil society activist said.

Wijenayake explained the current status of their efforts in response to The Island queries. According to him, the NMSJ Chief has called another meeting later this month to pursue the matter. Pointing out that some felt that the government should entirely focus on post-Aragalaya economic recovery process, the new administration couldn’t afford to keep the constitutional solution on the backburner, Wijenayake said.

The Public Representations Committee consisted of S. Winston Pathiraja (Secretary), Faisz Musthapha, Prof. A. M. Navaratna Bandara, Prof. M. L. A. Cader, N. Selvakkumaran, S. Thavarajah, Kushan D’Alwis, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Dr. Kumudu Kusum Kumara, Sunil Jayaratne, Dr. Upul Abeyratne, Themiya L. B. Hurulle, S. Vijesandiran, M.Y.M. Faiz, Mrs. M. K. Nadeeka Damayanthi, Ms. Kanthie Ranasinghe, S. C. C. Elankovan, and Sirimasiri Hapuarachchi.

The Wijenayake-led PRC handed over a report that contained the entire set of proposals to Yahapalana Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe on 31 May, 2016.

Karu Jayasuriya served as the Speaker of the Yahapalana government and was a key supporter of that constitutional process that received the backing of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council.

Wijenayake said that in the wake of the November 2019 presidential election, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a nine-member committee, headed by Romesh de Silva, PC, to formulate a new draft Constitution. That effort was discarded after Aragalaya forced Gotabaya Rajapaksa out of office, Wijenayake said, urging all political parties represented in Parliament to examine their proposals with an open mind. “Let us stop playing politics with the constitution making process. We should be genuinely interested in formulating a Constitution that would meet the aspirations of all communities,” Wijenayake said.

Wijenayake, who is a member of the NPP’s Executive Committee, said that during the presidential and parliamentary election campaigns references were made to the PRCCR’s proposals.

Responding to another query, Wijenayake emphasized that in spite of the successful conclusion of the conflict the country couldn’t achieve true national reconciliation for want of a new Constitution that was acceptable to the people.

Former SLPP National List MP Gevindu Cumaratunga accused Jayasuriya of promoting Yahapalana constitutional proposals that had been roundly rejected by the people at the presidential and parliamentary polls in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Cumaratunga emphasized that the proposed new Constitution should reflect the actual situation on the ground or post-2009 position. Asked to explain, the former parliamentarian said that the government shouldn’t, under any circumstances, promote a federal agenda in the guise of enacting a new Constitution.

Wijenayake noted that at the time the PRCCR formulated those constitutional proposals those who now represented the main Opposition SJB were members of the UNP. In the Yahapalana Parliament the JVP had only six MPs though the Marxist party-led NPP consisted of 159 MPs in the current Parliament.

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Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka pays courtesy call on PM

Published

2 hours ago

2026/02/19

Priyan

The Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka Dr. Siri Walt paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on the 17th of February at the Temple Trees.

Welcoming the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka the Prime Minister briefed the Ambassador on her recent visit to Davos to participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting noting that the series of high-level bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the Forum, along with two important industry visits provided valuable insights for Sri Lanka’s economic engagement.

The discussion focused on Switzerland’s vocational education and training (VET) system, with particular interest in exploring possible cooperation and knowledge-sharing opportunities.

The Prime Minister also conveyed her appreciation for the assistance extended by the Government of Switzerland following Cyclone Ditwah. She emphasized Sri Lanka’s need for enhanced technical assistance during the ongoing rebuilding phase, especially in relation to the reconstruction of bridges and railway infrastructure.

Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Switzerland, and to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

First Secretary (Political) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Justine Boillat, First Secretary (Migration) of the Embassy of Switzerland in Colombo Ms. Andrea Kienast and the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatt and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Foreign Employment, Tourism.attended the meeting.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Advisory for low pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/19

Priyan

Location of the low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal Sea area

Advisory for low pressure area in the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 03.00 pm on 18 February 2026

Multiday boats fishermen and naval community are warned that the low-pressure area still persists over the Southwest Bay of Bengal to the south-east of Sri Lanka. Under the influence of this system, heavy showers or thundershowers, Strong winds about (50-60) kmph, and rough or very rough seas can be expected in these sea areas.

The Meteorological Department is constantly monitoring the behavior of the system.

The naval and fishing communities are requested to be attentive to the future forecasts and bulletins issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.

News

Canada concerned about delay in holding PC polls

Published

4 hours ago

2026/02/19

Sahan Weerasooriya

Canadian High Commissioner Isabelle Martin shaking hands with Minister Abayaratne

Canada, said to be the home to the largest Tamil Diaspora community, has expressed concern over the delay in holding Provincial Council (PC) elections. Canadian High Commissioner Isabelle Martin, on Monday (16), took up the issue with Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Professor Chandana Abayaratne.

Sources quoted Prof. Abayaratne as having told the Canadian HC that the delay was not deliberate on the part of the government. The Minister blamed, what the sources called, certain legal, technical and delimitation issues for the delay.

India compelled Sri Lanka to enact the 13th Amendment to the country’s Constitution to enable the setting up of the Provincial Council system, in line with the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord, which Sri Lanka signed under duress in July 1987.

Prof. Abayaratne has assured the Canadian HC that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, too, recognised the importance of strengthening the Provincial Council system as a solution to ethnic issues and that urgent steps would be taken in that regard.

During the discussion, matters relating to strengthening political, economic and social relations between the two countries were discussed.

In May 2020, Canada declared that Sri Lanka had perpetrated genocide during the war against the LTTE. Canada also sanctioned former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa in January 2023 over alleged war crimes.

The Canadian HC also explained her country’s ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy and how Sri Lanka could benefit from it.

In particular, Canada’s “Pathways to Peace” project will support reconciliation between nations, and to improve communication by encouraging the learning of mutual languages as a second language, and it was also agreed to provide more opportunities for Sri Lankan students to pursue higher studies in Canada.

The Canadian delegation also expressed its willingness to provide the necessary technical assistance to solve the drinking water problems in Puttalam, Mannar and the North-Eastern provinces under technical cooperation, and to implement the relevant projects after a preliminary study.

by Shamindra Ferdinando