MR says CC not impartial

• Believes CC will not be impartial till political appointments removed 

In the wake of the debate on the impartiality of the Constitutional Council (CC), Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said the CC would not be independent as long as political party representatives occupy positions within it.

Rajapaksa expressed these views responding to questions at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) head office. He said the CC should be changed to overcome shortcomings of procedure.

“Yes, the CC should be changed. There is no independence in it. How can the CC be independent when it has the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader on it? It also consists of representatives of the President, Prime Minister and other political parties. With political party representatives in it, the CC cannot be independent,” he said.  

Rajapaksa, issuing a statement on 14 February, had said the entire state service has been disrupted due to arbitrary actions were taken by the CC. He pointed out that criticising the Council would not be the same as criticising the judiciary or disrespecting it.

CoPA report presented in P’ment