Preamble

REPRESENTING a diverse and ancient tapestry of Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay, and Veddah identities, united by a shared love for this island and a common destiny;

ACKNOWLEDGING with solemnity the shadows of our past—the conflicts that have fractured our unity and the injustices that have hindered our collective progress;

HONORING the profound spiritual and cultural heritage of Buddhism as a foundational pillar of our nation’s history, while equally embracing the rich contributions of Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity in shaping the moral fabric of our pluralist society;

DETERMINED to establish a Unitary and Indivisible Republic whose strength is derived not from the centralization of power, but from the sharing of authority through the principle of subsidiarity, ensuring that every community is a master of its local affairs;

RESOLVED to transcend ethnic and religious divisions by establishing a Civic Identity based on the equal dignity of every citizen, where the State remains a neutral protector of all, and a patron of none to the detriment of others;

DO HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT, AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION AS THE SUPREME LAW, FOUNDED UPON THE FOLLOWING INVIOLABLE PILLARS:

• Constitutional Supremacy: Ensuring that all power is exercised under the Law and subject to the oversight of an independent Judiciary.

• Substantive Equality: Eradicating all forms of discrimination and ensuring that the "foremost place" of any heritage never diminishes the equal rights of any citizen.

• Devolved Democracy: Guiding the State to govern as closely to the People as possible, respecting the autonomy of the Provinces within one unified nation.

• The Basic Structure: Protecting these eternal truths from the reach of temporary majorities, to secure a heritage of peace for all generations to come.

IN THIS SPIRIT OF RECONCILIATION, JUSTICE, AND FRATERNITY, WE PLEDGE OUR LOYALTY TO THIS COVENANT.