Constitution should suit country, people's needs - Keheliya

Indika Polkotuwa

A country's constitution is aimed for the good of the country and its people and their existence and is not a rock hewn edict which cannot be erased or altered.

Therefore, a Constitution has to be amended in keeping with the needs of the time and the demands of the people, said Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

He was addressing a meeting at the opening of the Menikhinna - Kumburegama - Heepitiya road in Kundasale which has been renovated and carpeted at a cost of Rs 27.8 million recently.

The Minister said the 13th Amendment to the Constitution has been forcibly enforced on the people without their consent.

Therefore, its position has to be reconsidered after a lapse of 25 years for the benefit and welfare of the country's 22 million population.

"India which had made the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lanka Constitution a hot topic of debate had brought the largest number of Amendments to its own Constitution from among other countries in the world. Many other countries too had subjected their Constitution to amendments from time to time," the minister said.

He said public opinion is today building up regarding the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in a free atmosphere, but, no such opportunity was given to the people when it was first introduced.