Parliament converting into a Constitutional Assembly

when SriLanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena will begin his second year in office, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will move a resolution in Parliament for converting the House into a Constitutional Assembly, marking the formal inauguration of the process of making a new Constitution in the place of the 1978 Constitution. As per the draft text of the resolution that has been hosted on the website of Prime Minister’s Office, the proposed Assembly, comprising all Members of Parliament, would seek the views and advice of the people on a fresh Constitution and prepare a draft one.  Once the Parliament adopts the draft Constitution Bill with two-thirds majority, the Bill will be sent to Provincial Councils for opinion and eventually, tested through referendum for the approval of people. Asked how long it would take for the new Constitution to be adopted, Rajitha Senaratne, Cabinet spokesperson, replied that “we have promised that the present system [Constitution] will continue till the present President is there [in office]. Before he exits, we have to change the Constitution.”  To a query whether this meant that the process would go on for four years?  Dr. Senaratne’s answer was: “You can’t say that. If people respond positively, then there is no problem.”