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Conscience vote for MPs

by Ranil Wijayapala, Manjula Fernando and Douglas Ayling

Constitutional amendments will be presented in the parliament next month enabling all Members of Parliament to vote on issues of national interest according to their conscience without any pressures or inhibitions.

Government Spokesman and Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris told the weekly Cabinet press briefing yesterday that the amendments will ensure that MPs will retain their parliament seats even if they face expulsion from their respective political parties as a result of voting according to their conscience.

Minister Prof. Peiris said that this particular amendment will be one of the crucial changes proposed to the Constitution.

This will facilitate the building of a national consensus on matters of national importance and on the solution to the ethnic problem, the Minister added.

The Government is also exploring the possibilities of presenting amendments restraining powers vested upon the Executive Presidency along with these amendments next month, the Minister added.

20 Executive Committees

The Minister said the proposed amendments aims to divide the Parliament into 20 Executive Committees in line with the Donoughmore Constitution which was operative from 1931 to 1948. Cabinet Ministers will chair these 20 Executive Committees.

Seven oversight committees

In addition seven oversight committees will also be appointed. The seven committees will include the existing Public Enterprise Committee, the Public Accounts Committee and the Public Petitions Committee.

The four new proposed oversight committees would be Human Development Committee, Economic Development Committee and Human Rights And National Integration Committee.

Special tribunal

Professor Peiris also detailed the Government's intention to set up a Special Tribunal in order to assess the laws passed prior to 1978.

The Special Tribunal would evaluate whether the laws examined are "in every way compatible with the fundamental human rights as reflected in the Constitution".

Sri Lanka is believed to have a unique position with regard to the judiciary's power to interpret the Constitution. The Supreme court is the sole authority with this legal right: it is stated that "If any matter relating to the interpretation of the Constitution arises in judicial courts, it must be referred to the Supreme Court".

Prof. Peiris said yesterday, "the time has now come to consider whether this should continue".

Committee to coordinate Parliament, PCs and Local Bodies

A new Committee will also be established to strengthen coordination of the Parliament, Provincial Councils and Local Government Bodies.

The Chairman of the committee will assist the activities of the Regional Development Ministries, Prof. Peiris added.

Electoral reforms will also be brought with the proposed amendments to the Constitution, the Minister added.

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