DailyMirror
The main opposition yesterday said the constitutional reforms, including the amendment of the 17th Amendment proposed by the government, were unacceptable as the constitutional council to be set up would not be independent.
UNP Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella told a news conference that the constitutional council under the amended 17th constitution proposed by the government would not be independent one as three of its members would be from the government.
According to the government proposal the constitutional council would comprise the President, Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and Speaker.
Mr. Kiriella said the 17th Amendment in its present form consisting representatives from all political parties would be a better representation of the Parliament.
The UNP MP said government should come up with its real proposals for the constitutional change so that those can be debated. He said the government should respond to what was reported by the media on the constitutional reforms which claimed to be government proposals.
Mr. Kiriella also criticized the government’s decision of not bringing the Attorney General’s Department under the purview of Ministry of Justice.
He recalled that the Attorney General’s Department had been under the Ministry of Justice for over 100 years and had functioned as an independent institution. He said the department had been included in the list of institutions that come under the President.
He said all institutions concerned with assuring justice to the people such as the Judiciary, Attorney General’s Department and the Police should be independent so that they could render an effective service to the people.
Mr. Kiriella said this was a principle practised in many countries in the world.The UNP MP questioned as to why the civil society was silent in these matters. He said eminent persons in the civil society should take these matters seriously. Mr. Kiriella said the UNP would also take up the issue in future and fight against the taking away of independence of these institutions.