June 21, 2013, 9:10 pm

By Saman Indrajith


Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday appointed a Parliamentary Select Committee "to recommend and report on political and constitutional measures to empower the people of Sri Lanka to live as one nation."


The Speaker announced the names of 19 government members on the committee, which would be chaired by Leader of the House, Irrigation and Water Management Minister, Nimal Siripala de Silva.


Other members appointed to the committee from the government ranks were: Prof G. L. Peiris, Maithripala Sirisena, W. D. J. Seneviratne, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Dinesh Gunawardena, Douglas Devananda, Susil Premajayantha, A. L. M. Athaulla, D. E. W. Gunasekera, Rishad Bathiudeen, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Wimal Weerawansa, Basil Rohana Rajapaksa, Lakshman Seneviratne, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Muthu Sivalingam, Dr Sudrashini Fernandopulle and Janaka Bandara, the Speaker said.


The rest of the members in the Committee would be announced in the future after receiving nominations from the Opposition, he said.


Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga said that Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had sent a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa in this regard, where they needed clarifications on several issues and once the UNP received those clarifications, the party would submit its nominations.