WILL TOPPLE GOVT. IF NO PC POLLS BEFORE MAY 31: SB

Former Minister and SLFP frontliner S.b.dissanayaka yesterday threatened that if the government does not hold Provincial Council polls before May 31, the joint opposition would topple the government.

The government is playing delaying tactics not to hold PC polls but the JO is determined to snatch the PC polls from the government by hook or by crook and protect the voting rights of the people.

Addressing the weekly news briefing at the ‘Centre of Transformation’ Mr. Dissanayaka went onto say that the entire JO was ready to vote for the amendments needed to be passed in Parliament paving the way to hold the PC polls under the old system with a two thirds majority.

Commenting on the controversy relating to the appointment of judges to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court nominated by President Sirisena to the Constitutional Council (CC) -the appointing authority- Mr. Dissanayaka charged that the government had fully politicized the CC.

One of the major positive outcomes of the 19th Amendment is the establishment or independent commissions with the aim of de-politicizing important establishments De-politicize. Therefore, the CC must be fully free of politics. But sadly this CC is a political arm of the UNP, he charged.

“President Sirisena has nominated the names of two senior most judges, Deepali Wijesundara and Kusala Sarojini Weerawardana who also have excellent track record and efficiency to be appointed to the two apex courts but the CC repeatedly rejects them citing that seniority was not only criteria for promotions of judges. But what else the CC wants other than seniority? Should these judges come before the CC and pleaded with them to give their due promotions? Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe talks about democracy and not happy with the JO’S comments on the partisan action of the CC. But how long he is remaining as the leader of the UNP. Why he fills the entire Executive Committee of the UNP with his supporters only?” he asked.

Mr. Dissanayaka said the grudge against the two judges was that one gave a ruling on the White Van case which the UNP did not like. Other one was the releasing of former Secretary to President Lalith Weeratunga on bail.

Mr. Dissanayaka was also critical on the action taken by the CC to obtain a letter from the Chief Justice on these appointments and added the CC must not correspond with the CJ and CJ must correspond with the president.

Responding to a journalist, Mr. Dissanayaka said the new political alliance led by the SLPP and the SLFP would be formed shortly and all forthcoming polls namely, the PC, Presidential and Parliamentary polls will be contested by this grand alliance and added all anti capitalist and progressive political parties and organizations will be united under this alliance.

Former Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala said holding of PC polls was out of question as the delimitation process was not concluded and therefore, PC polls have to be held under the old system.