Former Speaker urges Govt. and Opp. to engage to avoid constitutional crisis

Friday, 17 April 2020 13:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said today that if the Parliamentary Election could not be held on time, steps must be taken to avoid a constitutional crisis at all costs, warning such a crisis entailed the risk of delegitimising and destabilising our country, which could gravely impact Sri Lanka’s prospects of obtaining economic relief. In a statement issued today, Jayasuriya said every country in the world was putting political differences aside and uniting to face the threat of the new coronavirus.

“Sri Lanka is the only democracy to face COVID-19 crisis without a Legislature to pass laws and financial appropriations to combat the pandemic and its economic consequences. It is my opinion that the Government and Opposition must engage with the Election Commission and with each other urgently and in good faith. If there are any precautions or new laws that the Commission determines would allow it to safely hold elections in time, these must be explored immediately,” he said.

Jayasuriya said that he had recently been contacted by religious and political leaders, parliamentarians, academics, civil society and trade union representatives and members of the public seeking clarification on the impasse between the Election Commission and Executive on Parliamentary Elections.

“Sri Lanka and the world are faced with an unprecedented health and economic crisis. As the prospect of a constitutional crisis further compounding the plight of our country is a matter of grave national concern, I am setting out my position publicly rather than replying to each query individually,” he said on issuing the statement.

Jayasuriya added that it was the position of the Election Commission that the prevailing situation and logistical constraints prohibited Parliamentary Elections from being held in time for the new Parliament to be summoned to meet by 2 June while the Government was of the view that there wasn’t necessarily any impediment to holding Parliamentary Elections on or before 28 May.

“In the interest of the nation, I appeal to the Government, Opposition, and other stakeholders to set aside their political differences and to take urgent and meaningful steps to avoid an unnecessary third crisis for our country,” Jayasuriya said.