What happened
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said his government will pursue national consensus before drafting a new Constitution. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also said the government should not rush constitutional amendments.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made these remarks after meeting political party and alliance leaders representing Tamil-speaking minorities in Sri Lanka’s north and east and political leaders representing Malaiyaha Tamils in Sri Lanka’s central and southern hill country.
Tamil and Tamil-speaking communities launched a common political platform called the Political Council for Tamil-Speaking People. The platform includes multiple parties and groups.
The platform’s limited programme centres on three items: (1) introducing a new Constitution, (2) holding early Provincial Council polls described as long-pending, and (3) resolving conflicts related to people’s land.
A presidential office statement said President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reaffirmed the need to reform the Constitution and abolish the Executive Presidency. The statement stressed that broad, inclusive national dialogue should be the immediate priority rather than rushing a constitutional amendment.