President must act: JVP

• JVP claims Sirisena must accept failure 
• Plans to present Motion to establish special Commission to decide legality of Sirisena-Rajapaksa Cabinet decisions 
• But says no impact on public officials
• Says will continue efforts to approve 20th A to end Executive Presidency  

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday ruled out immediately initiating an impeachment process, and demanded President Maithripala Sirisena accept the Supreme Court’s decision without delay, emphasising that the next step is up to the President. 

Anura Kumara Dissanayaka

“The President must now accept he has lost,” said JVP MP Sunil Handunetti. “What is important now is not what we will do, but what the President will do.” 

The JVP also said the party would present a motion to Parliament to form a Committee to probe the legality of decisions made by the Cabinet appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena after 26 October, MP Vijitha Herath said.

“The special Commission needs to be appointed to take legal action against those who were part of this conspiracy,” MP Herath told Daily FT. 

The Commission, which is likely to be presented as a private Member’s Bill, would look at taking legal action against Parliamentarians and top State officials who may have violated the law, by being part of the Cabinet appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena after 26 October, or carrying out orders issued by it. 

According to Herath, the use of the Prime Minister’s Office and its facilities by MP Mahinda Rajapaksa should be investigated, as it could be a violation of law. “Action should be taken against those who have issued orders,” he added.

He insisted that the Commission would not penalise State officials who had to follow Cabinet directives as part of their duties. “Actions would be taken against only those who violated the law, this would not affect public officials who followed proper procedures,” he asserted. 

“Due to crossovers and other events, the people’s mandate that was given to the Parliament that was selected in August 2015 has now been damaged. Everyone knows what happened in Parliament after 26 October when MPs were offered money to cross sides. Therefore they have no moral right to continue in this Parliament,” he charged.

He noted a Motion would be presented to Parliament by the JVP, requesting a General Election to be held as early as possible. He also said the JVP would continue their work towards passing the 20th Amendment with a two-thirds majority in Parliament to abolish the Executive Presidency. “We are doing our best to pass the 20th Amendment in Parliament,” he added. 

The 20th Amendment to amend the Constitution to abolish Executive Presidency was presented to Parliament on 5 September by JVP MP Vijitha Herath as a private Member Bill. However, the Supreme Court later determined several proposed Articles of the 20th Amendment required a special majority in Parliament, followed by a referendum.