Gammanpila says MS reply on CC is humorous

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader and MP Udaya Gammanpila

By Chamodi Gunawardana

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) Leader and MP Udaya Gammanpila said that the reply letter sent by President Maithripala Sirisena regarding the Constitutional Council (CC) appointments was amusing. 

Gammanpila had sent a letter to President Sirisena on Monday asking for his reasons behind the appointment of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Propaganda Secretary and MP Vijitha Herath for the CC as the representative of other parties.

Issuing a reply letter President Sirisena has said that Herath was nominated by the Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan and he would not be considered as the representative of other parties.

Gammanpila asked if Herath was the nominee of Sampanthan, what was going to happen to the Opposition Leader’s previous nominee MP John Seneviratne.  

A month ago President Sirisena appointed Herath to the CC and Gammanpila accused the President of violating violated the constitution.

Gammanpila has mentioned in a previous letter that the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) were eligible to nominate a representative collectively for the CC, but did not enjoy the opportunity.

The CC has been recognised as the main component used to establish the nine independent commissions and it should guide those commissions continuously. The Speaker, Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader have the power to nominate MPs for the CC while being permanent members of it. 

The CC will be comprised of ten members. Seven out of whom should be Parliamentarians and remaining three should be civil organisation representatives. The Speaker, Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader can nominate five members and the rest will be nominated though recommendations by small parties.