MR faction to continue battle for polls

Parliamentarians loyal to MP Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said an appeal would be filed before the Supreme Court seeking to counter the Interim Order given by the Court of Appeal.

They insisted they would continue battling for General Elections. 

“We do not agree with this Order and we will file an appeal before the Supreme Court challenging this Order,” MP Dinesh Gunawardena told reporters, quoting from MP Mahinda Rajapaksa’s communique.

“The Constitution of our country gives the Supreme Court the sole and only power to interpret the Constitution of the country. Therefore, we seek the Supreme Court’s decision on this matter,” he added.

He said that they were all committed to bringing back political stability, protecting the county, and leading the country towards a General Election. 

“We appeal to the people to act with responsibility in a peaceful manner and not to get drawn into unnecessary conflicts. Our respect for law and order holds us to acting with courage in order to achieve these goals of bringing back a stable Sri Lanka,” he added. Speaking to reporters, MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara said he had never heard of such a decision by any court in the world. “As far as we know, such decisions had never been given by any court in the world.”

Responding to questions on how the country would function after the Appeal Court’s Order, MP Susil Premajayantha said that the President would seek legal opinion on this matter.

When asked about the meeting of President Maithripala Sirisena with Tamil National Alliance (TNA) members, Premajayantha said that it was a meeting that was scheduled prior to the Appeal Court’s verdict on political prisoners and not linked to the Stay Order.  (NS)