The Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, most of my time has been taken by unnecessary cross talks.

¶ 02 Since time is limited, let me move onto this other matter. Hon. Prime Minister, I read somewhere that the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs had said a few days ago that they are discussing the drafting of a new Constitution and putting it to a Referendum. You all have given an election promise about a new Constitution. Yesterday, we were at a discussion summoned by Mr. Karu Jayasuriya on behalf of the National Movement for Social Justice. The late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero initiated the National Movement for Social Justice. At that discussion, there were several legal luminaries and even former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga participated.

¶ 03 There, Dr. Nihal Jayawickrama pointed out that if the entire Constitution is to be overhauled, there is no need to submit it to a Referendum. That may be a moot point when it comes to the entrenched provisions of the Constitution. But still, Dr. Nihal Jayawickrama has repeatedly held that position. Prof. Savitri Goonesekere was also there. She was also talking about the salient features, particularly about the immunity of the President and various other provisions being removed. Particularly, the Executive Presidency is a moot point. There have been several promises made regarding that. Well, I hold a different point of view.