Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party was pushing for a Parliamentary Select Committee for the drafting of a constitution, contrary to the Prime Minister's resolution.

Furthermore, he rejected claims that the new constitution will divide the country or reduce the status of Buddhism.

The new constitution will be a unitary one, and the SLFP will not compromise on the matter, de Silva said, speaking at an event in Badulla.

He added that the powers of the Executive President should be reduced through the new constitution.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe presented a resolution on drafting a new constitution on January 9, proposing the Parliament to be converted to a Constitutional Assembly.

However, several parties have since expressed their opposition to the proposed mechanism.