News
Tamil parties to have talks on making new Constitution
Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) leader MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam said yesterday that his party would wait until 08 February for the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) to finalise its decision on participating in tripartite discussions regarding a political solution for the Northern people.
Ponnambalam said that the discussions aimed to unite Tamil political parties in proposing a common solution during the drafting of a new Constitution.
ITAK Acting Leader and Northern Provincial Council Chairman C.V.K. Sivagnanam informed the media that he had communicated to Ponnambalam that an interim report, prepared during the Yahapalana era, under former President Maithripala Sirisena, and then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, for a new Constitution, had been discarded by ITAK.
Sivagnanam, who has received an official invitation for Tamil parties to unite on this issue, indicated that a favourable decision would be announced soon.
A meeting between Sivagnanam and Ponnambalam, along with TNPF General Secretary Selvarasa Kajendran, took place on Saturday evening at Sivagnanam’s residence in Nallur. During the meeting, the TNPF formally invited ITAK to participate in discussions, aimed at addressing the issue of a new Constitution in Parliament, which are expected to occur this week.
Sivagnanam said that ITAK’s efforts toward a new constitution are not new. He said that Ponnambalam and Siritharan, head of ITAK’s parliamentary group, had already held discussions in Parliament. The matter was also reviewed by ITAK’s Central Committee, which did not oppose the initiative.
Instead, a seven-member committee has been formed within ITAK to advance the issue.
He said that the TNPF had submitted a written letter to him and ITAK General Secretary Dr. P Sathiyalingam. Opportunities to meet with Sathiyalingam, Siritaran, and former MP MA Sumanthiran in the coming days were also discussed. ITAK plans to announce its decision after further consultations.
Regarding the interim report prepared during the 2016-2018 Good Governance era, Sivagnanam said that it has been discarded and is no longer relevant. In 2021, TNA submitted a draft constitution to the expert committee, led by President’s Counsel Romesh de Silva, under the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration. By incorporating that draft and considering Ponnambalam’s views, Sivagnanam expressed confidence in reaching a collective position.
Ponnambalam met with Sivagnanam last Saturday and formally invited ITAK representatives to join discussions where Northern parties would deliberate on the drafting of a new constitution.
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya yesterday sad that the Executive Presidency would be abolished, in line with the NPP’s election manifesto.
Speaking in Parliament, in response to a question raised under Standing Order 27/2 by Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa, the Prime Minister said the abolition would take place through a proposed new Constitution.
She added that preliminary work on drafting the new Constitution had already begun, with previous committee reports and other proposals being studied to guide the process.
“A concept paper on the draft will be presented to the Cabinet,” Amarasuriya said, noting that a formal study has been initiated on abolishing the Executive Presidency.
She said that the move cannot be implemented without introducing a new Constitution.
Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that the suspension of duties imposed on Dr. Rukshan Bellana, Deputy Director of the National Hospital, amounted to a violation of his fundamental rights.
Raising the issue during parliamentary proceedings, Premadasa, who is also the SJB Leader, questioned the decision to suspend the senior medical officer for issuing a statement to the media, particularly on matters relating to children’s medicines.
He said health was a fundamental right and noted that two children had reportedly died, stressing that the focus should be on accountability over the incident rather than penalising a medical professional for speaking out.
Premadasa criticised the authorities for suspending Dr. Bellana solely for communicating with the media, asking whether such action constituted justice for families who had lost their children.The Opposition Leader said silencing officials, who raise concerns, undermines fundamental rights and does not address the underlying issues related to patient safety and public health.
Acting Deputy Director of the Colombo National Hospital Dr. Rukshan Bellana has been suspended.
A letter, issued by the Ministry of Health, says preliminary investigations by the Ministry of Health has revealed that Dr. Bellana, as a government medical officer holding a responsible position, made statements to the media, without approval, in a manner that created a controversial situation in the country and unrest among the public.
The letter further stated that formal disciplinary action will be taken in due course regarding this matter.
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