Sri Lanka’s senior appointments to be decided by Constitutional Council: Deputy Policy Planning

Feb 09, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s new government would take steps to appoint a Constitutional Council including senior respected people and ministers from government and opposition to decide senior appointments, Deputy Policy Planning and Economic Affairs Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva said. He made this comment at LBR LBO CEO Forum, answering a question on appointments made by the new government for some senior posts.

…..And that, ideally, we would like to have the appointment made by the Constitutional Council, de Silva said.

We do not have it,"

So, unless we change the Constitution and bring back the 17th Amendment and ensure the board is appointed with the concurrence of Constitutional Council, then we can avoid these kind of criticisms that come our way. he said.

The 17th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka, which had made provisions for the Constitutional Council and Independent Commissions, was replaced by the 18th Amendment brought in by the previous Rajapaksa regime.

Critics argue many political appointments were made in government offices by the Rajapaksa regime abusing the power created by the 18th Amendment.

President Maithripala Sirisena earlier said during the Presidential Election campaign that he would abolish the Executi