Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, addressing a conference on Constitutional Reforms at the BMICH yesterday, said the first interim report on the new Constitution would be presented to Parliament in August.

The Prime Minister, who is the Chairman on the Constitutional Assembly, emphasised the first interim report on the new Constitution was not draft constitution bill: “What we have now is a report on the Constitution,” he said.

He said public opinion could be sought on the report after which debate can take place. “Once the debate is over we can send a full report to Parliament and debate how the draft constitution should be prepared.”

“It is a long process that will build consent not divisions,” the Prime Minister said.

He pointed out that Steering Committee had established six Cabinet sub-committees to look into various aspects of the new Constitution. The sub-committees had consulted various stakeholders and submitted their report to the Steering Committee, the Prime Minister said.

“Now the Steering Committee will compile a report. That report will be submitted by August,” the Prime Minister said.