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Multi party national council and sectoral oversight committees could be set up within two weeks: Ranil

07 Jul 2022 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}      

  • It will be possible to set up powerful sectoral oversight committees  similar to the committee system which was set up under the Donoughmore Constitution in 1931
  • Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has come up with proposals to include those who do not represent Parliament in these committees 

 By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said the multi party national council and the sectoral oversight committees could be set up within two weeks if all parties representing Parliament come to a consensus on it. 

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said this making a special statement after Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunge presented the proposals to set up sectoral oversight committees and also to set up the national Council comprising all parties. 


“ It will be possible to set up powerful sectoral oversight committees  similar to the committee system which was set up under the Donoughmore constitution in 1931. These reforms will pave the way for both the government and the opposition to work together in Parliament,” he said. 


“Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya whom we assigned to look into the setting up of these committees has come up with proposals to include those who do not represent Parliament in these committees. This will help youth to play a role in governance,” he said.  


Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella who responded said the reforms proposed by the present government will not be legal as constitution does not provide provisions for the national council or for the setting up of sectoral oversight committees. “Sectorial oversight committees was introduced under the 19th Amendment. The constitutional reforms proposed by the government under the 22nd amendment to the constitution does not propose setting up of oversight committees and national council,” he said.