SC must resolve any constitutional crisis: former Speaker

• Tells Constitutional Council no intention of reconvening Parliament and pushing country towards another crisis
• Urges party leaders, parties to not create any form of constitutional crisis
• Constitutional Council reviews progress of all independent commissions
• Letter from NEC on Police transfers during election time discussed
• PM briefs Constitutional Council on COVID-19 programs

Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday told a Constitutional Council meeting that he had no intention of reconvening Parliament and pushing the country towards another crisis.

“It is only the Supreme Court that can give an interpretation at a time like this, and we are bound to act on the Court’s advice,” said Jayasuriya, who chairs the Constitutional Council, urging all party leaders and parties to not create any form of constitutional crisis at a time where there is a severe pandemic affecting the whole world.

The Constitutional Council meeting was held at the Speaker's official residence, and was attended by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, former MPs R. Sampanthan, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Bimal Ratnayake, and Thalatha Atukorale, as well as the civil society representatives Javed Yousuf and Naganathan Selvakumaran.

At yesterday’s meeting, the Constitutional Council reviewed the progress of all independent commissions, and attention was drawn to two letters sent to the Constitutional Council by the National Election Commission.

One letter highlighted that the National Police Commission (NPC) should work with the concurrence of the Election Commission with regards to transfers and appointments of Police officers in the Police Department during the election period.

Several members of the Constitutional Council who addressed the meeting voiced concerns of police transfers that have taken place thus far and the Constitutional Council decided to convey this to the Police Commission.

The Council also focused on the vacant positions in the Office for Reparations, and it was decided to fill the vacancies at the next meeting, so that the Office could function properly.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa briefed the Constitutional Council on the COVID-19 preventive measures taken by the Government, as well as the restoration of the livelihood of the people of the country.

The Prime Minister informed the Constitutional Council that steps are being taken to look into the problems of Sri Lankan labourers in the Middle East in the face of COVID-19, and that steps are being taken to resolve their problems.

They also discussed measures taken to repatriate students who are abroad for study and stranded in various countries.

Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya stressed the importance of working with all political parties, irrespective of political interests, when addressing the COVID-19 crisis.

Secretary-General to Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake, as well as Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Neil Iddawala were also present.