AG declines to comment on constitutional crisis

Silencing all speculations and claims made about the Attorney General’s opinion, AG Jayantha Jayasuriya yesterday informed the speaker that he that he cannot comment on the legality of the post of Prime Minister.

The Speaker had sought the advice of the Attorney General on who is legally the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, after a political crisis arose last week.

The AG has informed the Speaker he feels it is inappropriate to give advice on that matter.

However, Spokespersons of the Sirisena-Rajapaksa Cabinet Ministers Keheliya Rambukwella and Mahinda Samarasinghe on Tuesday claimed to have received an opinion from Acting AG Dapula de Livera, saying the appointment is legal and constitutional. Samarasinghe however declined to share a copy of the email or the source of the email when asked by Daily FT.