By Saman Indrajith
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne yesterday informed the House that he was yet to receive the Supreme Court’s determination on the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill.
The Speaker said this in answer to a query raised by Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa.
Premadasa said that the Supreme Court recently concluded its hearing into several fundamental rights petitions that were filed challenging the Bill. “Some Ministers said on TV that the Speaker had received the determination, and they also fixed dates for the election. I like to know why the determination is not announced to the House,” Premadasa asked.
Speaker Dr. Wickramaratne: I am yet to receive that determination.
Kurunegala District SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said that Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa had stated during a press conference last week that the verdict had been received by the Speaker and that the decision will be communicated to the House yesterday. “If the Supreme Court has not yet sent it to Parliament. This statement was made by Minister Jayatissa, who is also the Cabinet Spokesman, and Chief Government Whip. Why did he make such a statement if the determination had not yet been delivered to the Speaker? If the Supreme Court has not sent the determination, the Minister should retract his statement,” MP Jayasekera demanded.
Minister Dr. Jayatissa said what the Speaker had announced to the House yesterday was the truth.
Opposition Leader Premadasa said that the Supreme Court sent its determination to the Speaker to announce it to the House. When determination is not conveyed to the House, the privileges of the Speaker and all 225 MPs are breached,” Premadasa said.
from The Island https://ift.tt/1fvYLPE
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