Sampanthan says Legislature has proven its independency

Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan - Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

The Leader of the Opposition and TNA Leader R. Sampanthan yesterday declared that the Legislature of the country has shown its independence.

He made this remark during a press conference after the Parliamentary session yesterday.

“Since 26 October this country has been moving into a situation of turmoil. The incumbent Prime Minister was removed from office; a new Prime Minister was appointed; a Cabinet was appointed; Parliament was prorogued; and subsequently Parliament was dissolved. All these actions were in contravention of the Constitution of this country. They violated the country’s Constitution,” he stated.

“We, on the basis of a policy decision, decided the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will oppose those actions on the part of the Executive. We went to Court. The first petition finding the Supreme Court challenging the order of dissolution of Parliament was filed by me, on behalf of my party. That matter was taken up for inquiry yesterday. And the Court has suspended the operation of that gazette declaration, the operation of the dissolution of the Parliament and the consequential steps pertaining to the elections,” Sampanthan said. “We have thereby preserved the sanctity of the Constitution – the supreme law of the country; we have thereby ensured that the rule of law prevails in this country,” stated the Opposition Leader. He further said: “The independence of the Judiciary has been demonstrated by the Judiciary on Tuesday. And the independence of the Legislature has been demonstrated by the decision taken by the 122 MPs, against the present Government and against the continuance of Mahinda Rajapaksa as the PM of this country.” Sampanthan also said that it was now time for the country to return to normalcy and for good governance to prevail. He appealed to all those with authority to do what is right and legal and not violate the law of the country.