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

The President further said that even a draft of the new Constitution is not yet ready and, if the draft Constitution has to be prepared, it will be presented to the Parliament and to the country, and after considering all the suggestions and criticisms and with relevant amendments, that draft will be prepared.

The President emphasized that any changes will not be made to the clauses of the Constitution regarding the unitary status of the country in the Constitution as well as to the provisions regarding Buddhism in the 1972 Constitution.

President Sirisena further said that the expectation of the people regarding the new Constitution is to see that their request to change the existing electoral system and to introduce Proportional Representation System and said that in the process of building national reconciliation, and devolving power, a scientific political mechanism, which would, under any circumstance not divide the country or change the unitary system should be evolved.

The Anunayake of the Asgiriya Chapter, Ven. Anamaduwe Sri Dhammadassi thero presented the Scroll to the newly elected Chief Sanganayaka and the President presented the Vijinipatha (the traditional fan) to the new Sanganayaka Thero.

Later, the President opened the Mahaweli Hela Bojun Hala at Dehiattakandiya and the new Zonal Education Office, Dimbulagala and the ICT Education Centre.