Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have reached an agreement on the appointment of three civil society representatives to the Constitutional Council, a key constitutional body responsible for safeguarding the independence of appointments to critical state institutions. The decision follows a period of negotiation after the terms of the previous civil society members expired on the 16th of this month.
The new nominees agreed upon are Professor Wasantha Seneviratne, Austin Fernando, and Ranjith Ariyaratne. Their appointments are expected to restore the Constitutional Council to full strength and resume its role in overseeing high-level appointments to the judiciary, public service commissions, and other key constitutional offices.
The outgoing civil society members—Dr. Anula Wijesundara, Dr. Pratap Ramanujan, and Professor Dinesha Samararatne—completed their terms, prompting renewed discussions between political leaders on suitable successors. Under Sri Lanka’s Constitution, civil society members of the Constitutional Council must be appointed by the Speaker with the consent of both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, a process designed to ensure broad political consensus.
The three nominees bring diverse experience and backgrounds to the Council. Professor Wasantha Seneviratne currently serves as Senior Professor of Public Law and International Law at the University of Colombo’s Faculty of Law. She is also the Director of the Centre for the Study of Human Rights, a leading research institute affiliated with the university. Austin Fernando is a veteran public servant who has held several senior roles, including Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Secretary to the President, and has experience in private and international institutions. Ranjith Ariyaratne is a Special Grade Officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service and has served as secretary to multiple ministries.
The Constitutional Council comprises ten members, including ex-officio members such as the Prime Minister, the Speaker, and the Leader of the Opposition. The Council also includes members appointed by the President, with nominations requiring consent from parliamentary majorities and the two main political leaders. The appointment of the new civil society members marks a crucial step in restoring the Council’s full functionality.
