President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reaffirmed that it is the government's position that the Constitution should be reformed and that the Executive Presidency should be abolished.
However, he stressed that, rather than pursuing a hastily drafted constitutional amendment, the priority at this stage is to build a new national consensus.
The President made these remarks during a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat with representatives of a six-party alliance representing Tamil and Muslim political parties.
He emphasised the necessity of initiating a broad and inclusive national dialogue to ensure that any future constitutional framework is established on shared national agreement rather than unilateral political moves.
Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran noted during the discussions that drafting a new Constitution cannot be undertaken hastily.
He urged that the process be approached as a national dialogue capable of addressing the concerns of Sri Lanka's diverse communities, avoiding the mistake of introducing a Constitution unilaterally as occurred in 1948, 1972, and 1978.
President Dissanayake highlighted that his administration has already laid the groundwork for a unified national identity where citizens act collectively as Sri Lankans, noting that the country has remained free of ethnic unrest under the present administration.
He added that his long-term vision remains a system of governance strictly accountable to Parliament.
The meeting also addressed key regional and socioeconomic matters, including stalled Provincial Council elections and land rights for the Malayagam (Hill Country Tamil) community.
On the subject of elections, President Dissanayake pointed to the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee tasked with studying the conduct of Provincial Council polls, promising direct engagement with the panel to resolve pending issues.
Regarding the Malayagam community, the President announced plans to grant estate workers legal ownership of 10-perch residential land plots, with relevant provisions set to be written into state plantation lease renewals before 2042.
Further commitments were outlined to improve living standards in the Central Highlands and the North. In addition to establishing a dedicated authority to manage environmental sustainability and landslide risks in the Central Highlands, the government plans to increase funding for the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure in the 2027 Budget.
The President also confirmed that the 2027 and 2028 Budgets will allocate funds to build 13,000 houses in two phases for conflict-affected families who lost their homes.
Temporary housing and rental allowances will also be provided for those displaced by Cyclone Ditwah until permanent structures are completed. Addressing concerns raised over land disputes involving state departments in the North and East, President Dissanayake reaffirmed that land rightfully belongs to the people and urged the alliance to frame community issues within the broader national interest.
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