Two-thirds needed to address shortcomings of independent commissions: SLPP

• Charges independent commissions not living up to intended purpose 
• SLPP says will amend powers if given sufficient powers at General Elections

By Nuwan Senarathna

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday raised concerns over the impartiality and functioning of independent commissions established under the 19th Amendment, and said the party will take necessary steps to address their shortcomings once they form a Government.

The 19th Amendment established the Constitutional Council and independent commissions for a range of State responsibilities including the Elections Commission, Police Commission and Public Services Commission.

Speaking to reporters at SLPP head office, General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said functioning of independent commissions raised concerns among the public about their impartiality and the intended outcome of the commissions when they were established under the 19th Amendment.

“The intention of forming independent commissions was to depoliticise the functioning of that State responsibility. However, we were unable to experience that from these commissions. Some of the commissions had created very challenging issues during the last few years,” he said.

Kariyawasam charged the functioning of the Police Commission and said the commission was unable to take necessary actions against several Police officials that breached the code of conduct.“The Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara was appointed after the recommendation of the Constitutional Council. There were several allegations levelled against him but the 19th Amendment prevents him being removed from his post. This has also raised concerns about the Constitutional amendment and the powers of the Police Commission,” he charged. He charged the former Chairman of the Police Commission had revealed that the former Speaker had influenced the functioning of the commission. He also argued that if such an incident happens that would raise concerns about the impartiality of the commissions. Kariyawasam also charged commissions had created challenges to functioning of the Government; therefore the functioning of the commissions should be revisited. “We request the public to give us a two-third majority to address these challenges created by the 19th Amendment,” he said.

Speaking to reporters, Prof. G.L. Peiris assured that the Government would bring all Sri Lankans stranded in foreign countries due to COVID-19 outbreak. He noted quarantine would be mandatory for all of them.

“The Government is successfully containing the virus and the country will slowly return to normalcy. Therefore the Government will take necessary measures to prevent the spreading of the virus,” he said.