SLPP national list MP Prof. Tissa Vitharana said President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa promised them last night that the new Constitution would be adopted within a year.

Addressing a press briefing in Colombo, Vitharana said the drafting of the new constitution would begin in November, this year.

Citing the President's assurance, Vitharana indicated that the leftist coalition partners of the government would vote in favour of the 20th Amendment bill.

Addressing the same press conference, Minister Vasudewa Nanayakkara said the new constitution would bar dual citizens from functioning as parliamentarians."Therefore, we will support the dual citizenship clause in the 20th Amendment to the Constitution," he added.