He was making a special statement on the formulation of a new Constitution at Temple Trees yesterday.

He said that the new Constitution would not change the unitary nature of the country. He further added that some were alleging that the foremost place given to Buddhism and the unitary nature of the Constitution are being negated, he stated and that this was not true.

The new Constitution would not only be presented for the approval by a two thirds majority in Parliament, but also the entire country at a referendum, he further said.

He pointed out a Cabinet paper was presented on November 16 to amend the Constitution, abolish the Executive Presidency and introduce a new election system following the pledge by President Maithripala Sirisena to abolish the Executive Presidency, during the funeral of Sobitha Thera.

"The President proposed to appoint a Cabinet Sub-committee in this regard. Accordingly I was appointed its chairman, while Ministers Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, D.M. Swaminathan, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Susil Premajayantha, Lakshman Kiriella, Malik Samarawickrema, Rauff Hakeem, Rishad Bathiudeen, Patali Champika Ranawaka and Mano Ganeshan were appointed its members. Former Justice Ministry Secretary Kamalini de Silva was appointed its Secretary while Prof Suri Rathnapala was appointed a Consultant," he added.

He said that the new Constitution would not change the unitary nature of the country. He further added that some were alleging that the foremost place given to Buddhism and the unitary nature of the Constitution are being negated, he stated and that this was not true.

“I am a Buddhist, I am Sinhalese and I want to unite the country,” he said, further remarking that for the first time in the world, social media is being used as a tool in amending the constitution and to draft a constitution.

"The youth represents the future and has diverse opinions. Sri Lanka will be the first country in the world that formulates the Constitution after receiving the opinions via social media too. You can involve yourselves in this process while being at home. This Constitution is on your behalf. We cannot stop it even though a handful come to streets and shout," he said.

The new Constitution will be created to meet the hopes of the people, he added and invited the people to present their views on the new Constitution to the office of the Committee to obtain public views set up at Visumpaya.