Millions of rupees spent to draft new constitution in vain

By Madukanda Sithum Chathuranga 

President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday though the parliamentarians spent millions and millions of rupees on the constitution making exercise, it did not bring any fruitful results in the end. President Maithripala Sirisena expressed his views when he participated in the programme - ‘Let us unite for the country’ held in Jaffna.  
 
 During the last four and half years, he said the MPs whom he referred to as gentlemen in Parliament worked out constitutional proposals after spending a colossal amount of money. He said those who claimed themselves as constitutional experts sojourned the world capitals to study different models of constitution making, but nothing had been achieved at the end. He said he pledged to abolish executive presidency right from the beginning, but it could not be done for no fault of his.   

“Now the UNP say they have not presented any proposals to be included in constitution.Then what did they do during this period,except deceiving the people in north, asked the president. He also said now the government and the opposition had begun again to talk about a new constitution. A new constitution is essential for the country. Commenting on the 19th Amendment to the constitution,  he said it only created three powerful posts in the country. He said the presidential powers were curtailed and vested with the Prime Minister and the Speaker. He said the Speaker had control over the independent commissions today.   

 During the last four and half years, he said the MPs whom he referred to as gentlemen in Parliament worked out constitutional proposals after spending a colossal amount of money. He said those who claimed themselves as constitutional experts sojourned the world capitals to study different models of constitution making, but nothing had been achieved at the end. He said he pledged to abolish executive presidency right from the beginning, but it could not be done for no fault of his.   

“Now the UNP say they have not presented any proposals to be included in constitution.Then what did they do during this period,except deceiving the people in north, asked the president. He also said now the government and the opposition had begun again to talk about a new constitution. A new constitution is essential for the country. 

Commenting on the 19th Amendment to the constitution,  he said it only created three powerful posts in the country. He said the presidential powers were curtailed and vested with the Prime Minister and the Speaker. He said the Speaker had control over the independent commissions today.