Speaker responds to President's request

COLOMBO: Responding to President Mahinda Rajapaksa's request for immediate nomination of all members constituting the Constitutional Council, Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara has informed the President that all efforts to reach a consensus among party leaders with regard to the nomination of Minor Political Party Representatives, have so far not been fruitful.

The President in a letter to the Speaker earlier pointed out that the inordinate delay in nominating the Constitutional Council has caused setbacks in the appointment of the National Police Commission, the Public Service Commission and the Elections Commission in addition to delays in the activities of the Judicial Service Commission and the Human Rights Commission.

He called upon the Speaker to consult the relevant authorities and take steps to nominate the entire membership constituting the Constitutional Council, without further delay.

Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara, in reply to the President's call appreciated the President's earnest endeavour to implement the Constitutional Council and regretted that in spite of several rounds of discussions among the party leaders, a unanimous decision has not been so far reached with regard to the nomination of members representing the minor parties.