PAFFREL submits proposals on drafting a new Constitution

By Ajith Siriwardana

The People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) has submitted its draft proposals on the new Constitution to the Expert Committee appointed to draft a new Constitution.

PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said the proposals have been drafted  based on public opinion regarding a new Constitution.

He said a progressive Constitution which is widely representative of people’s aspirations and consists of more advanced features should be introduced in place of the current Constitution which has been amended 20 times within 42 years.

Mr. Hettiarachchi said even though there should be a broad discussion among the people in drafting a new Constitution, it was pathetic that there had been no such discussion in the society.

He said however, despite the global pandemic of COVID -19, the PAFFREL drafted the proposals on a new Constitution through a series of discussions with groups of people representing various social groups.
 “We have given priority to the ideas which should be included in the Constitution in terms of the electoral system. We have also included proposals that came up on other matters as well,” he said.

Mr. Hettiarachchi said this set of proposals included proposals which could be used directly in drafting a new Constitution and other proposals which pertain to implementing democratic principles.

He requested the Expert Committee to consider their proposals and draft a new Constitution which would widely represent people’s aspirations and was based on common principles agreeable to all.