The government will hold a referendum on the new constitution once it is drafted and approved by the Parliament, Deputy Minister Ajith P. Perera said today.

Addressing a press conference, he said that the government will not carry out a 'constitutional coup' like in 1972, where only the Parliamentary approval was used to introduce a new constitution.

On January 9, 2016, the government will put forward a proposal to convert the Parliament into a Constitutional Assembly for the drafting of a new constitution, Perera said.

Following the drafting of the constitution, it will have to go through Cabinet approval and Parliamentary approval, he pointed out.

The constitution will need approval by two thirds of MPs.