… dares SLPP to move court against rebel group

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Top Opposition spokesperson Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday (16) dismissed Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s attempt to introduce a new system for electing MPs as a politically motivated project to sabotage national elections. Such an exercise couldn’t be justified under any circumstances at a time the Provincial Council and Local Government polls, too, had been put off indefinitely, he said

Prof. Peiris stressed that the government continued to disregard the specific Supreme Court directive given in early March to conduct Local Government polls, and he dared the SLPP to go to court against its dissident MPs in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that endorsed the expulsion of rebel SLMC MP Nazeer Ahamed for switching allegiance to the government.

Prof. Peiris said that the SLPP would not under any circumstances seek a court order against them, having elected UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the President at the vote in July last year at the expense of Dullas Alahapperuma, who was fielded by the SLPP.

He said so in response to a media query at the weekly media briefing conducted at the Nawala office of the Nidahasa Jathika Sabhawa. The SLPP rebel group consists of 12 MPs.

The SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa is on record as having said in Parliament, shortly after the SLPP elected Wickremesinghe to complete the reminder of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s five-year term, that he voted for SLPP candidate Dullas Alahapperuma. “We are prepared to present everything in court in case they resort to legal action,” Prof. Peiris said, declaring that whoever voted for Wickremesinghe had acted against the interests of the party. “They continue to do so,” Prof. Peiris said, asserting that the government’s efforts were geared to postponing elections, at all levels.

Prof. Peiris said that those at the helm of the SLPP should bear the responsibility for defeating their own man.  Wickremesinghe received 134 votes against Alahapperuma receiving 82votes. “Let the court decide who resorted to treachery,” Prof. Peiris said, questioning the overt and covert moves made by the government to put off national elections indefinitely.

Having being elected to complete the remainder of his predecessor’s term, President Wickremesinghe was making a bid to hold onto Office, the SLPP National List MP said. The former minister alleged that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa alliance was trying to postpone elections in the guise of introducing far reaching constitutional reforms.

Prof. Peiris stressed that Environment Minister Ahamed’s case had absolutely no relevance as the Supreme Court found fault with him for voting with 2022 Budget vote, contrary to a decision taken by the party.

Commenting on the simultaneous abolition of executive presidency and announcement of early general elections, Prof. Peiris said that such an exercise couldn’t be undertaken in a hurry. The former Law Professor emphasized that the abolition of executive presidency should be included in a brand new Constitution. The lawmaker explained that the executive is related to subjects, ranging from independent commissions to appointment of Governors of Provinces. Hence the responsibility of introducing a new Constitution should be left for the next government, Prof. Peiris said, calling for a consensus on early parliamentary elections.

The ex-Minister declared that the Opposition is of the view that early general election could lead to the formation of a government to undertake a holistic examination of constitutional needs to address current challenges.

Prof. Peiris said that the President’s decision to grant another three-week extension to IGP C.D. Wickremaratne couldn’t be justified. Pointing out that Wickremaratne had been given two three-month long extensions since March this year, Prof. Peiris pointed out, declaring this decision was contrary to the position taken by the Constitutional Council.