Clarification from SC needed - Ranil
A clarification from the Supreme Court is needed on the situation that has arisen over the interim order which prevents the arrest of former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, as it has become a serious legal snag, said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament yesterday.
Mr. Wickremesinghe in response to a question by Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala De Silva said the interim order had been given by the Supreme Court without informing the respondents of the petition, and that jurisdiction had to be exercised by a bench comprising three judges according to section 132 of the Constitution.
He said the same Supreme Court which issued an interim order on the arrest of the former defence secretary had given a different judgment in a case filed by MP Tiran Alles. In this case, he said, the judges had said all respondents of the case should
The prime minister said he had turned down a request by some to bring in an impeachment motion on the judges who issued the said interim order, while others had suggested that new laws be brought in to prevent such legal snags. However, he said, he would inform the House of the steps the government would take after studying the situation
be informed before an interim order was issued. The prime minister said he had turned down a request by some to bring in an impeachment motion on the judges who issued the said interim order, while others had suggested that new laws be brought in to prevent such legal snags. However, he said, he would inform the House of the steps the government would take after studying the situation.
At the same time he said it would be advisable to adhere to the principles laid down in the resolution signed by the commonwealth leaders in 2013, where they pledged to uphold the rule of law and safeguard the independence of the judiciary. “The former Sri Lankan president who took over the chair of the Commonwealth signed this document on behalf of Sri Lanka, and the incumbent president Maithripala Sirisena who has taken over this position is also duty bound to uphold these principles,” Mr. Wickremesinghe said.