Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says that a decision and statement made by the Speaker amounted to a violation of the Constitution and the sovereignty of the people.
Speaking in reply to the Speaker’s address in Parliament today, he emphasized the democratic principles of separation of powers and the system of checks and balances among the executive, legislature, and judiciary, all of which derive authority from the people.
He said Parliament has a constitutional responsibility to safeguard people’s sovereignty and stressed that bodies such as the Constitutional Council were established to strengthen checks and balances and protect the independence of the judiciary.
Premadasa noted that calls for a parliamentary committee were intended to promote and safeguard judicial independence.
The Opposition Leader asserted that the Speaker’s decision constituted a fundamental breach of the Constitution and a violation of the people’s sovereignty as well as their fundamental and human rights.
His comments come in response to Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne’s delivery of a ruling under Standing Order 27(3), declaring out of order a motion submitted by 31 Members of Parliament to appoint a Select Committee to examine the powers of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
“The appointment of a Select Committee of Parliament to examine matters pertaining to the Judicial Service Commission would be a derogation of the independence of the judiciary and thereby a derogation of the judicial power of the People. I extend my sincere appreciation to all Members of this House for their patient and attentive hearing of this lengthy ruling, which I believe will stand as a landmark in the parliamentary history of Sri Lanka, strengthening our parliamentary tradition and the dignity of this august Assembly,” the Speaker said in Parliament today. (Newswire)
