About the Ministry

The Ministry of Constitutional Reform was created in April 2004 by Gazette Extraordinary No. 1338/9  of
28 April 2004 and assigned the subjects and functions of "Implementation of plans and programmes in respect of Constitutional reforms". Subsequently by Gazette Extraordinary No. 1340/13 of May 2004 the National Integration Programme Unit was brought under this Ministry and the subject and functions of "Promotion of National Integration and "Ethnic Affairs" were also assigned.

By Gazette Extraordinary No.1357/28 of 10 September 2004 the Ministry was renamed as the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs and National Integration. The National Integration Programme Unit (NIPU) has been brought under this Ministry and the Implementation of Plans and Programmes in respect of Constitutional Reforms, Promotion of National Integration and Ethnic Affairs are subjects and functions assigned to the Ministry.

By Gazzette Extraordinary No 1422/22 of December 2005 Department of official languages, official Languages commission were assigned to the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs and National Integration.

Objectives

This Ministry will seek to assist in bringing constitutional changes and national integration by -

•   Encouraging debate and discourse on such areas of constitutional change, to help bring about
    greater empowerment of the people.

•   Carrying on activities that will help build greater public awareness of the need for constitutional
    change and national integration.

•   Educating the public on the need for constitutional recognition of the political and other rights
    of all peoples of Sri Lanka, and through this means promote a higher degree of national
    integration.

•   Helping in the overall building of public opinion on the need for constitutional change for better
    governance and national integration.

•   Laying emphasis in our activities to highlight the commonalities among the different communities
    that make up the Sri Lankan society and encourage the  implementation of the provisions relating
    to Official Language policy to promote national integration .

•   Using practical means of interaction between different communities to help enhance national
     integration

•   Contributing to strengthen the moves towards peace so that sustainable peace is established
    through a negotiated settlement of the current conflict.

Activities

It is intended to achieve the above objectives by:-

•   Studying possible areas of constitutional change suitable for Sri Lanka in the current socio - political   context, based on the principle of power sharing.

•   Conducting seminars, discussions, workshops and public meetings on the need for constitutional   change and achieving national integration.

•   Compiling and publishing educational material on these subjects.

•   Conducting special educational programs for public servants to give them a more in-depth   understanding of the present constitution, the need for constitutional change, and their   responsibilities under a constitution based on power sharing.

•   Conducting special school programs to build awareness among teachers and the student   community on the need for constitutional change and national integration, and encourage their   own contributions for such programs.

•   Using print, audio and visual media to increase awareness on these subjects.

•   Using this website to bring about greater awareness of the activities of this Ministry towards   reaching the goals of constitutional change and national integration and facilitate greater   interaction with this Ministry and its activities by concerned persons both in Sri Lanka and abroad.

•   Providing a reference centre for students and researchers on constitutional affairs on the   constitutional history and current thinking and developments regarding constitutional change in
    Sri Lanka