In a steadfast move to ensure that the voices of civil society were heard in Sri Lanka’s Constitution making process a public meeting and rally was held in Colombo on the 20th of September 2016. It was initiated by a collective of around 100 organisations and individuals wanting to take public action. The meeting, under the banner ‘Action for a Peoples Constitution’, commenced at the Viharamahadevi Park open air theatre and was followed by a march to the temple trees where an open letter signed by organisations and individuals was handed over to Rosy Senanayake, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office at Temple Trees.
Civil society made submissions on constitutional reforms to the Public Representation Committee (PRC), during the public sittings in January 2016, and the PRC report has been presented to the Constitutional Assembly. The Steering Committee is expected to present an Interim Report containing proposed principles of reform to the Constitutional Assembly in November.