Time to change the Constitution: Speaker

14 January 2013 02:36 am

The need of the hour is to introduce a new Constitution to suit the country, Speaker Chamal Rajapaska said on Saturday in Galle.
He said that the recent crisis was a clear indication of that need.

Inaugurating the proposed courts complex project at Beligaha junction in Galle on Saturday he pointed out that the Constitution should have provisions to find immediate solutions to the problems of the people and to expedite the development process.

“The Legislature and the Judiciary are both intended to solve problems. The two institutions should join hands and serve the people without creating disputes. The recent crisis was a clear indication of the need to change the Constitution in the interest of the people. Constitutional issues should not be allowed to retard the country’s development,” he said

The proposed courts complex will include a Civil Appellate Court, a High Court, two District Court, Chief and Additional Magistrate’s Courts, and the first Commercial High Court and the Admiralty Court at provincial level. The project costing Rs.875 million is funded by the Ministry of Justice.

Minister of Justice Rauff Hakeem, Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody, Parliamentarian Ramesh Pathirana and President of the Galle Bar Association Duminda Rajapaksa and Secretary to the Ministry of Justice Kamalani De Silva addressed the gathering. (D.G.Sugathapala)