The referendum on a new constitution is a risk worth taking, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said. 

The Foreign Minister made this remark when he met the members of the Foreign Correspondents Association (FCA) for a discussion. 

Despite the SLFP's demands to retain the Executive Presidency, Samaraweera said the passage of a new constitution remains one of the key political priorities of the government. 

Samaraweera also added that the government could draw the public support for the new constitution and get it endorsed at a referendum. 

The Foreign Minister was also of the view that those who supported the 'rainbow revolution' - especially the civil society - would support the government in its effort to ensure the passage of a new constitution. 

However, various differences of opinion have occurred between the two main parties in the coalition government - the UNP and the SLFP - over the provisions in the proposed new constitution. 

While the SLFP, led by President Maithripala Sirisena, pushes for the retention of the Executive Presidency, a section of the UNP firmly believes that it should be abolished, as promised by the ruling coalition at the last Presidential election. 

There are differences of opinion between the two main parties over the nature of power devolution to provinces.