Former MP Udaya Gammanpila has alleged that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been avoiding the appointment of the Auditor General until the end of the term of three independent members of the Constitutional Council on 18 January 2026.
In a statement, Gammanpila said it was obvious that he wants to appoint the auditor general of his choice with the support of the Constitutional Council.
Gammanpila further alleged that the President intends to command the majority of the Constitutional Council after appointing his henchmen as independent members of the Council.
He said, however, there is a golden opportunity for the Leader of the Opposition to defeat this grand conspiracy.
“According to Article 41E, the members of the Constitutional Council shall continue in office until assumption of the office by the new members, notwithstanding the expiration of their terms. If the Leader of the Opposition agrees to withdraw from the established practice and follow the Constitution to the dot, we can defeat the conspiracy of the President.
“According to Article 41A(1)(e)(iii) of the Constitution, three independent persons shall be nominated by agreement of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. However, established practice was that only one name was jointly agreed upon by them, and one name each was nominated by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition out of the applicants. If the Leader of the Opposition withdraws from this practice and demands that all three names must be jointly proposed by both, he can ensure that truly independent and impartial persons would be appointed to the Constitutional Council,” Gammanpila said.
Udaya Gammanpila further noted that unless the Leader of the Opposition agrees to this proposal, the Prime Minister would nominate an NPP supporter to the council, and thereby the President can politicize the entire State machinery by appointing superior court judges, auditor general, attorney general and members of independent commissions of his choice. (Newswire)