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| Saturday, 29 May 2004 |
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| Constitutional Affairs Minister seeks: Collective consensus for new Constitution by Nadira Gunatilleke New Constitutional Affairs Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera yesterday stressed the importance of achieving the collective consensus of all segments of the Lankan polity in framing a new Constitution. "We need a consensual approach to formulate a new Constitution. We have to formulate a new Constitution that receives the approval of all shades of opinion - political parties, religious groups and the different communities," the Minister said after assuming duties at his Ministry office at Kollupitiya. He said the present Constitution had created several problems chiefly in connection with realising the aspirations of the poor. "Any new Constitution should win the people's consent. A debate is raging on Constitution making. The truth can emerge only through such debate," the Minister added. The Minister stressed that a Constitution should be designed primarily for achieving the aspirations of the poor and there was no need for a Constitution if it failed the vast majority of the masses. "There is no use of a Constitution - whatever its type - if the people do not benefit by it.We have had experience of all previous Constitutions. Sometimes they solved problems while at other times they created problems." The Minister emphasised that Constitutions should be chiefly aimed at realising the aspirations of the poor and the marginalised. "In any event Constitutions have no impact on the rich for whom it is irrelevant." he said the present Constitution has created several problems for the poor and the country needs a new Constitution approved by all segments. He noted that at present even good elements of the 1978 Constitution such as the language policy are not implemented. There is no proper mechanism to monitor the proper implementation of the Constitution other than an occasional arguing of a fundamental right case filed by a rich litigant. The minister said he would be soon renaming his Ministry. It is important for Ministry officials to learn all three languages. He promised to provide all facilities for the Ministry officials to learn Sinhala, Tamil and English. "It is very important to learn at least two languages, Sinhala and Tamil. More subjects will be added to the Constitutional Reform Ministry. Our duties are not limited to formulating a new constitution," he added. "By these measures we hope to reduce the number of enemies and create more friends. The people do not know each other's language, which is a major problem when solving the ethnic problem. Therefore it is vital to learn and teach all three languages especially Sinhala and Tamil. This Ministry will be a model for other ministries. We will bring the ministry close to the public," the minister remarked. Ven. Kumburugamuwe Vajira Thera delivered an Anusasana. Constitutional Reform Ministry Secretary Ms. Malkanthi Wickremesinghe, ministry officials and well wishers were present. |
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