By Shamindra Ferdinando

Manohara de Silva, PC, says that President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s unprecedented criticism of the Supreme Court should be examined against the backdrop of the controversial ‘Economic Transformation Bill’ (ETB) pending before the apex court.

“The President’s warning may have a chilling effect on the judiciary,” de Silva said, emphasising the responsibility on the part of the legislature to thwart the executive’s agenda.

Commenting on President Wickremesinghe’s proposal to establish a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to review the SC’s determination on the ‘Gender Equality Bill,’ de Silva said that the UNP leader couldn’t proceed unless the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) agreed to abide by the move.

The top constitutional lawyer said that in the wake of the SC directive in respect of a case against the postponement of Local Government polls in early 2023, some members of the government talked about summoning judges before parliamentary Ethics and Privileges committee. That was part of their strategy, de Silva said, declaring that the apparent bid to pressure SC over its determination on ‘Gender Equality Bill’ could cause irreparable damage.

Nearly 20 petitions had been filed against the ETB, and therefore the powers that be were making an effort to facilitate the process, leading to the enactment of that contentious piece of legislation, the President’s Counsel said.