President awaiting Standing Committee Report on CC

Uditha Kumarasinghe Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

KOTTE: Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayake told Parliament yesterday that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was not ready to establish the Constitutional Council until he receives the report of the Standing Committee appointed to look into the shortcomings of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution.

The Premier was responding to a special statement made by Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera regarding the immediate establishment of the Constitutional Council to uphold the Constitution to appoint Independent Commissions soon.

The Premier said he informed the Government’s view to Parliament in this regard by making a special statement earlier as well.

“This decision will not be changed by the President,” he said. Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera said the Government should take steps to establish the Constitutional Council soon. He requested the Prime Minister to inform the House about the date of the establishment as it is a major necessity of the society to implement the 17th amendment.