Sri Lanka opposition party continues with discussions on proposed constitutional reforms

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) has commenced discussions on several proposed constitutional amendments with the government.


UNP Secretary Tissa Attanayake told  that discussions on the implementation of the 17th amendment to the Constitution and the electoral reforms have already been commenced with the government.

The discussion on the abolishing of the Executive Presidency and establishing an Executive Prime Ministerial post is to be taken up for discussion after UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe, who is currently touring overseas, returns to the country.
The discussion on the 17th amendment is carried out between External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and a group of UNPers led by Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya while Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and a party delegation led by Attanayake conduct discussions on the electoral reforms.
Attanayake said it has been agreed with the government to commence discussions on the proposed Executive Prime Ministerial post when Wickremasinghe returns.
The discussions were a result of the meeting between the UNP and the government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa earlier in the month.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's major Tamil and Muslim constituencies also have entered into a dialogue regarding the constitutional reforms.
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) have scheduled to meet for talks on Thursday July 29. TNA leader R. Sampanthan and SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem will lead the delegations of the two parties.