The lawmakers of the government met with the Chief Prelates on Friday to enlighten them on the preparations of the new constitution and to clear the misleading information propagated by the opposition.
A group of United National Party ministers and parliamentarians met with the Chief Prelates of the Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters on Friday to explain the reality of the process towards formulating a new Constitution. They informed the prelates that a new constitution or draft had not been prepared yet and only the report of the Steering Committee on the constitution is prepared.
They charged that Parliamentarians of the United People’s Freedom Alliance are misleading the clergy by conveying false information of the proposed new Constitution.
The UNP group presented the report of the Constitutional Steering Committee appointed by the Constitutional Assembly to the chief prelates of the Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters this morning.
The Ministers and Parliamentarians presented the report to the Chief Prelate of Malwathu Maha Viharaya to the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera. The group thereafter, visited the Asgiri Maha Viharaya and handed over the report to the Chief Incumbent of the Asgiri chapter Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thero.
Ministers Lakshman Kiriella, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Daya Gamage, State Minister Lucky Jayawardene, Parliamentarians Palitha Range Bandara and Mayantha Dissanayake were also present on the occasion.
Following the meeting with the Chief Prelates the UNP group held a press conference in Kandy.
Speaking to the media, Minister Madduma Bandara said certain groups within the Opposition are attempting to deceive the public. He said what was tabled in the parliament was a proposal only and nowhere in the proposal was federalism mentioned.
The Minister said false statements are being made regarding Buddhism, the country’s unitary status and the Police. The proposals clearly state that priority will be given to protect the place given to Buddhism and the unitary status of the country.
Minister Bandara noted the SLFP, the UPFA and the Podujana Peramuna are making contradictory statements before Parliament, with Tamil groups, the people and the clergy.
MP Palitha Range Bandara said a proposal for the new Constitution was what was tabled in Parliament recently. The Opposition is making false claims before the Maha Sangha and the society with the aim of manipulating them, he said.
Minister Kiriella, reiterated that no constitution or even a draft has not been prepared yet and the government has not held any secret discussions or signed secret pacts with the Tamil National Alliance to divide the country.
The Minister explained that during the Constitutional crisis, Tamil political parties for the first time in a long time, rallied with parties in the North to help protect the Constitution and democracy and they did not make any special requests during the discussions. The only request they made was to develop the north as same as the South. “The government will work with all parties in the North for the sake of development,” he said.
