Who Is Going To Decide The Contents Of The New Constitution?

The government is going to bring in a totally new constitution after adopting the 20th amendment. Some oppose the decision by the drafters of the amendment to allow duel citizens to contest elections. If the government is really going to enact a new constitution, what is the need of the 20th amendment before it. Interestingly, the committees that prepared and reviewed 20a comprised ruling party politicians whereas the one drafting new constitution includes legal experts

- M.S.M.Ayub

Leaders of the Opposition parties, especially those of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP) are making an unnecessary big fuss over the architect of the draft 20th Amendment to the Constitution that has already been gazetted. On the other hand the leaders of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and its allies also seem to believe that they should not reveal the person or persons who drafted that amendment, for some unknown reasons.

Responding to the journalists, Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa said last Saturday that he was unaware as to who drafted the 20th Amendment while Education Minister Professor G.L. Peiris dodged the question by claiming that it was not drafted by one person but a group of ministers decided the contents of it.

True, the government had appointed a ministerial subcommittee comprising ministers G.L.Peiris, Dinesh Gunawardena, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Udaya Gammanpila and Mohamed Ali Sabri to draft this Constitutional amendment on August 20. However, it does not mean that all five persons have drafted it; one or two have to put it on paper. It was obviously a group work which has ultimately been given the legal shape by one or two individuals.