G. L. slams Karu

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman 

Prof. G. L. Peiris - Pic Lasantha Kumara

• Says Speaker should not have met with international community 
• Insists President has powers to dissolve Parliament 
• Believes election will give chance to people to elect Govt. that would uphold democracy  

By Nuwan Senarathna

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday charged that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had exceeded the powers of his post by meeting with representatives of the diplomatic community and alleged Jayasuriya had misrepresented the situation to them. 

“A crisis situation did not arise from the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister by the President. It was Speaker Karu Jayasuriya who crated an unnecessary crisis in the country. He met with members of the international community. His actions are in support of his party and not the interests of Parliament,” Prof. Peiris charged. He pointed out that Jayasuriya had gone beyond the powers given to the Speaker. “Jayasuriya acted like a dictator by stating that he would reconvene Parliament on 7 November.”

Prof. Peiris said that Jayasuriya had created a clash between the Executive and the Legislature by exceeding the powers vested with the Speaker by the Constitution.

Prof. Peiris insisted that by his interpretation of the Constitution, the actions of President Sirisena were justified.  

“Article 70 of the Constitution, which states Parliament cannot be dissolved until the expiration of a period of not less than four years and six months from the date of appointment, comes under the chapter of Legislature. That article only affects Article 70 of the Constitution but Article 33 gives authority to the President beyond those of Parliament,” he said. 

Prof. Peiris said that the dissolution of Parliament is an opportunity for the people to elect a Government that would re-establish democracy in Sri Lanka. 

Prof. Peiris said that President Maithripala Sirisena holds the responsibility to protect the Constitution and uphold democratic rights of the citizens of Sri Lanka under Article 33 of the Constitution.