MPs attached to the Joint Opposition have decided to remove themselves from all sub-committees set up through the Constitutional Assembly, UPFA parliamentarian Bandula Gunawardene said.

Addressing the media yesterday, Gunawardene said the JO had decided to withdraw from the sub-committees, because they didn’t want to compromise on the unitary nature of the state.

He said there was evidence to prove that the reports of the committees favoured federalism and separatism – which the JO condemned and opposed.

Gunawardene also said the Joint Opposition rejected the reports compiled by the six sub-committees, set up through the Constitutional Assembly.

The six sub-committees were set up in May 5, 2016 to develop constitutional principles on Fundamental Rights, the Judiciary, Law and Order, Public Finance, Public Service and Centre-Periphery Relations, for the consideration of the Constitutional Assembly’s Steering Committee.