Mar 19, Colombo: A heated debate commenced in the parliament yesterday as Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka made a special statement with regard to the reactivation of constitutional council as required by the 17th amendment of the country’s constitution.

Premier said that the President has decided to not to activate the Constitutional Council until the report of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the subject makes its recommendations. He also pointed out that the appointment of the 10th member to the council has been dragging for over 2 years and therefore it is essential to make suitable alteration to the existing law that is creating problems.

Joining the debate opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe pointed out that the tenure of the present general secretary to the parliament expires at the end of this month and without the council the vacancy will not be able to be filled. He said that if somebody takes the appointment in the absence of the council it would only create a parliamentary privilege issue and therefore it would be difficult for the parliament to continue its proceeding in the near future.

Also, Mr. Wickremasinghe highlighted that there is no issue with regard to the appointment of the parliamentary select committee but the existing law must not be violated until the changes come.

Meanwhile, Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa supported the opposition leader’s argument that the government is violating the existing law by not appointing the constitutional council. He said that the government is acting against the law by ignoring the present law saying that it is defective.

The speaker imposed a prohibition to not to report anything on the heated words exchange between the two sides that followed.

Parliament will not be in session today in honor of late SLFP MP Anura Bandaranaike whose funeral takes place today at Horagolla.