President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said the responsibilities vested in the Government, according to the Constitution regarding the unitary status of the country and the place given to Buddhism, should never be abandoned under any circumstances.

He made these observations at the ceremony to present the Scroll to the newly elected Chief Sanganayaka of the Eastern Province and Thamankaduwa, Egodapattu, Venerable Makuruppe Pannasekara Nayaka Thero at the Mahaweli Shalika Hall Dehiattakandiya, yesterday (July 10).

The President further said that even a draft of the new Constitution was not ready yet.

"When the draft Constitution is prepared, it will be presented to the Parliament and to the country. After considering all the suggestions and criticisms, the final version of the new constitution will be prepared," the President added.

The President emphasized that any changes will not be made to the clauses of the Constitution regarding the unitary status of the country and the position accorded to Buddhism .

He also said that the people wanted to see a change in the electoral system through the proposed new constitution. 

"In the process of building national reconciliation, and devolving power, the unitary status of the country should not be altered,"  he explained.