MR CAN ASK SC TO EXAMINE APPEAL COURT DECISION -UNF

The only thing those in the cabinet appointed on October 26 this year can ask the Supreme Court is to examine yesterday’s interim order issued by the Appeal Court preventing them from functioning as the government, UNP MP Jayampathi Wickramaratne said yesterday.

Dr Wickramaratne told a media briefing last evening that the Supreme Court could only say is whether it is going to examine the decision of the Appeal Court or not,. in response to an appeal which will be filed by the group led by Mr. Rajapaksa.

Also he said the status quo that existed before October 26 2018 could be now established. He said that is the only way out at the moment.

“There is no provision in the constitution for the President to hand pick Prime Ministers as he has to appoint the person who commands the confidence of the majority in Parliament to the post.there are precedents for this in the past as President

D B Wijetung had to appointed Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in 1994 although he did not like to do it as she had a majority. The situation was the same in 2001 when President Kumaratunga had to appoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister and Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2004. President Kumaratunga actually wanted to appoint late Lakshman Kadirgramar as the Prime Minister in 2004 but had to appoint Mr. Rajapaksa as he commanded the confidence of the House at that time,” he said.