Parliament convenes as Constitutional Assembly for the first time on April 5

The Constitutional Assembly is gathering for the first time in the Chamber of Parliament with the leadership of Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Tuesday at 2 p.m. (April 5). The Constitutional Assembly was appointed for the purpose of deliberating and seeking the views and advice of the people on a new Constitution for Sri Lanka and preparing a draft of a Constitution Bill for the consideration of Parliament. The Constitutional Assembly, which will consist of all the Members of Parliament, at its first sitting, will determine the Sub-Committees that will work on the Constitution-making process and elect members to those Sub-Committees. The Constitutional Assembly will also appoint a Steering Committee, consisting of the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Leader of the House, the Minister of Justice and not more than eleven other members. The Prime Minister is at the first meeting expected to present a resolution for adoption by the Constitutional Assembly, calling upon the Steering Committee to present a resolution proposing a Draft Constitution Bill for the consideration of the Constitutional Assembly. It is also expected that the Premier would speak about the recent discovery of the suicide vest and other ammunition.