Sri Lanka parliament to debate on new constitution

Sri Lanka parliament will have a three-day debate in January on the proposals for constitution making, Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella said on Monday.

Sri Lanka sponsors the resolution adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in September last year to work out a political solution to the country's Tamil national question. The country ended its 30-year war in May, 2009, and since then there has been demands for power devolution.

Kiriella told Xinhua that six subcommittees had worked out proposals and they would be debated in parliament on January 9-11.

"This is the first time in Sri Lanka that a constitution making process has been underway under the glare of media. Earlier, it was not open to the media. The general public can see what we do," he said.

After the debate, the views of respective political parties will be taken up for consideration in drafting the new constitution.

In the UNHRC session scheduled for March next year, Sri Lanka's case is listed to be taken. Therefore, the government is bent on showing some progress in constitution making this year, in coincidence with the first anniversary of President Maitripala Sirisena in office.