Some Initial Proposals for a New

Constitution

by Laksiri Fernando
( January 14, 2016, Sydney, Sri Lanka Guardian) Proposal 1: There can be a Preamble
to the Constitution other than the Official Proclamation under SVASTI such as the
following before operational articles and Chapter 1.
PREAMBLE
We the People of Sri Lanka,
In order to consolidate national unity, to preserve territorial integrity and peace, to
enhance democracy and good governance, to ensure social justice to all communities,
to promote social and gender equality, to further promote general welfare and social
security of citizens and inhabitants,
Believing in unity in diversity, and
Being a member of the family of democratic nations,
Hereby establish this Constitution,

On the basis of fundamental human rights, peoples inalienable sovereignty,

constitutionalism and rule of law, compulsory adult universal franchise, and
equality of all citizens irrespective of ethnicity, gender, religion, language, political
opinion or any other distinction.
This Constitution is supreme and is the fundamental law of the country.
Justification: The present beginning of the constitution is abrupt without declaring a
vision or basic principles that Sri Lankas future and the Constitution would be based
on, although there are certain inoperative principles incorporated in the Proclamation
under SVASTI. A vision is most important for a new constitution and it should
embrace the current thinking after the democratic change in January 2015. There are
different views over the importance of a Preamble to a constitution and its legal status.
However, the importance is accepted as setting the stage and/or declaring the main
vision, beliefs and principles underlying the Constitution or constitution making. In
the present proposers opinion, the Preamble is legally valid and not merely a
decoration to the Constitution.
Proposal 2: Title of Chapter 1 may remain the same (The People, The State and
Sovereignty). It was the same in the 1972 constitution. While the order of the articles
could have been re-arranged to give more primacy to the people, and their sovereignty.
However, as many of the articles may require pointed referendum, the order is kept
the same as in the present Constitution.
No changes are proposed to Articles 3, 6, and 8 to minimize referendum requirement.
Minimum changes are also proposed to Articles 1, 2 and 7 for the same reason. The
most important is to have the founding principles of government/governance as in the
case of South Africa and many others. Article 4 can be utilized for this purpose without
any inhibition. Through this chapter, and particularly Article 4, one should be able to
understand the nature and the scope of the proposed constitution and the system of

governance/government.
CHAPTER I
The People, the State and Sovereignty
The State
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) is a Free, Sovereign, Independent, Indissoluble, Plural and
Democratic Republic and shall be known as the Republic of Sri Lanka. (Comment:
Referendum required)
Unitary State
The Republic of Sri Lanka is a Unitary State with Devolution in Nine Provinces as
prescribed in this Constitution. The State takes responsibility for peace, unity and
welfare of the people. (Comment: Referendum required)
Sovereignty of the People
In the Republic of Sri Lanka sovereignty is in the people and is inalienable. Sovereignty
includes the powers of government, fundamental rights and the franchise. (Comment:
No change. No referendum required)
Constitution and Governance
Sovereignty of the people for governance shall be exercised in the Republic by all
delegated authorities in the following manner according to this Constitution. This
Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic. Any law or conduct inconsistent with
the Constitution or fundamental human rights provisions is invalid. The obligations
imposed by it must be fulfilled. (No referendum required by Constitution)

The legislative power of the Republic shall be exercised by the national Parliament,
consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate as prescribed in this Constitution.
Parliament may seek peoples mandate through referendum on important policy
matters. The Provincial Councils shall exercise devolved legislative functions as
prescribed in this Constitution. Elections for the National Assembly and the Provincial
Councils shall be on a mixed system of proportional representation and constituency
based first-past-the-post principle within an overall proportional representation.

The executive power of the Republic shall be exercised by the President, the Prime
Minister and the Cabinet as prescribed in this Constitution. The devolved executive
functions shall be exercised by the Governors, the Chief Ministers and the Council of
Minsters as prescribed in this Constitution.

The judicial power of the Republic shall be exercised by the Supreme Court, the other
courts, tribunals and institutions established by this constitution or by law under the
Constitution. The independence and impartiality of the judiciary are the cardinal

principle.

The President of the Republic shall be elected at a national election and be in charge of
national reconciliation and national security. All other executive powers of the
President shall be ceremonial and on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
The position of the President is not of an executive president. Head of the Cabinet shall
be the Prime Minister. The President shall chair the Cabinet, as Head of the State, only
when matters of national reconciliation or national security are discussed or she/he is
so invited by the Prime Minister on other matters.

The Provincial Governors of the provinces shall be appointed by the President on the
advice of the Prime Minister. The Provincial Councils shall be elected as prescribed in
this Constitution and laws under this Constitution. The Governors have special
responsibilities on national reconciliation and national security. All other executive
powers of the Governors shall be ceremonial and on the Advice of the Chief Ministers
and the Council of Ministers. Head of the Council of Ministers shall be the Chief
Minister.

The fundamental human rights which are so declared and recognized by the
Constitution shall be respected, secured and advanced by all organs of governance, the
legislative, executive and judicial; and at all levels of governance, national, provincial
and local. All citizens and inhabitants are obliged to follow and respect the
fundamental human rights. The fundamental human rights shall not be abridged,
restricted or denied, except under exceptional circumstances prescribed in the
Constitution yet under the supervision of the Supreme Court and the Human Rights
Commission.

Compulsory universal franchise is the foundation of representative democracy in the

Republic. Every citizen who has attained the age of eighteen and who is registered and
not unqualified under the law has the right and duty to vote at all elections, national,
provincial and local. The Republic shall implement compulsory registration and
compulsory voting progressively, introducing necessary future laws within ten years.
(No referendum required by Constitution)
Territory of the Republic
The territory of the Republic of Sri Lanka shall consist of the main islands landmass
and the adjacent islands, which are together demarcated into Nine Provinces and
Administrative Districts within them as set out in the First Schedule, and the
internationally recognized territorial waters and the airspace. (No referendum
required by Constitution)
The National Flag

 The National Flag of the Republic of Sri Lanka shall be the Lion Flag depicted in the
Second Schedule. (No change. No referendum required)
The National Anthem
The National Anthem of the Republic shall be Sri Lanka Matha, the words set out
inSinhalese and Tamil along with music in the Third Schedule. (Referendum required)
The National Day
The National Day of the Republic of Sri Lanka shall be the fourth day of February. (No
change. No referendum required)
Code of Ethics
In the promotion of good governance and furtherance of democracy, there shall be an
overall Code of Ethics for all elected representatives at national, provincial and local
levels as set out in the Fourth Schedule. More elaborated Codes of Ethics may be
elaborated by relevant authorities based on the Fourth Schedule.
(End of Proposed Draft)
Salient Features and Justification
The proposed Preamble is new. Hopefully, it embraces many of the required
conceptions. These are initial proposals. The author is flexible on constructive
suggestions and it is finally up to the people and their representatives to decide. Article
1 brings plurality into the fore. Unity in diversity is emphasised in the Preamble. The
name Democratic Socialist is dropped in the title of the Republic as it is misleading.
Republic of Sri Lanka is sufficient as the name.
It is important to bring the conception of fundamental human rights. Instead of
fundamental rights, the term fundamental human rights is introduced as relevantly as
possible.
Unitary conception is retained, but qualified with devolution. No amalgamation of
provinces is proposed. The main contours of devolution is brought to the forefront of
the Constitution in the proposed Article 4 for clarity and due recognition. Republic is
characterised as indissoluble to allay any fears. There are other checks built in.

Legislative and executive powers and functions both at the national and provincial
levels are clearly defined and demarcated as foundational principles of the
Constitution. These should be elaborated in subsequent chapters. Independence of the
judiciary is considered as a cardinal principle. No supremacy for parliament is
accorded. Checks and balances are built in. Constitutionalism is considered as the
underlying principle.
Abolition of the executive presidential system is ensured. It is however proposed that a
nationally elected President is retained for the limited purposes of national
reconciliation and national security. The position of a nationally elected President may
pose the risks of self- promotion and thus the abuse of power.
However, the powers (functions) are limited and could be checked and balanced by
the PM and the Cabinet. President also could be a check on the abuse of power by the
PM or the Cabinet. With the maturity of the electorate and political culture, President
can become an agency not only of reconciliation, but also for political harmony in the
country.
A Senate is proposed. One half of the members should be appointed by the Provincial
Councils. The other half is to represent the unrepresented sections, talent and
professionals.
Compulsory universal franchise is proposed to be implemented progressively within
ten years. The electoral system should be a mixed system of FFP and PR within the
overall framework of proportional representation.
The National Anthem both in Sinhalese and Tamil is proposed to be included in the
Third Schedule. Code of Ethics for all elected representatives is proposed as the Fourth
Schedule in the Constitution. These proposals only pertains to a Preamble and Chapter

1 of the Constitution.
Posted by Thavam