If anyone withdraws from the Constitutional Council without submitting ideas and views for drawing up a Constitution suitable for the country, such an irresponsible action can never be condoned, said the Most Ven. Warakagoda Gnanaratana Mahanayake Thera of the Asigiriya Chapter.
The Asigiriya Chief Prelate expressed these sentiments when Higher Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella called on him at his temple in Kandy and presented a copy of a report of the Steering Committee on Constitutional Reforms after receiving his blessings, recently.
The Chief Prelate said the submission of ideas and views of all parties was necessary to resolve problems and issues confronted in formulating a new Constitution. “If anyone decided to withdraw from the Constitutional Council, it could not be considered as a good decision,” the Mahanayake Thera said.
Minister Kiriella said a new Constitution would be formulated with the consensus of all parties, after subjecting the Steering Committee report for debate in Parliament. The government had no desire whatsoever to formulate a new Constitution behind Parliament or the people.
He said the proposed new Constitution would safeguard the unitary status of the country and the foremost position given to Buddhism in the present Constitution.
He said Tamil parties too are providing an active contribution towards the formulation of the new Constitution, as never before and this had created the necessary foundation to formulate a new constitution suitable for the country.
A new Constitution would be a new beginning for the country’s forward march towards development.