SL Speaker to face no-confidence motion

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 November 2003, 11:34 GMT]
The leaderships of Sri Lanka's main opposition Peoples Alliance (PA) and the Sinhala nationalist, Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Thursday decided to collect signatures of parliamentarians to move a no-confidence motion against the Sri Lanka Speaker Mr.Joseph Michael Perera stating he had no power to challenge the proclamation of the President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge proroguing parliament, political sources said.

Leader of the Opposition Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse Thursday made a special statement in parliament when it resumed its sitting to debate the 2004 budget of the United National Front government that the Speaker has no right to express opinion on the President's action in proroguing parliament. The President has acted according to executive powers conferred on her by the Article 70 of the 1978 constitution. No one could challenge the President's proclamation, Mr.Rajapakse said.

Meanwhile the main constituent of the PA, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has condemned the statement made by the Speaker in parliament Wednesday against the President's decision to prorogue parliament on November 3 and reconvene a new session on November 19.

The SLFP general secretary Mr.Maitripala Sirisena said in the statement that the Speaker has no right to challenge the President's proclamation.

" The SLFP wishes to register its strong condemnation that the accusation leveled and the wrong interpretation given by the Speaker about a constitutional exercise made by the President," said Mr.Maitripala Sirisena.

The Speaker in his ruling on Wednesday had stated," when different parties hold power in the Executive and the Parliament, it is essential for both these branches to act in co-operation if the expectations of the people are to be fulfilled. The sovereignty, vested with the people under the constitution, is divided and exercised by the Executive President, Parliament and the Judiciary. Parliament is the supreme organ of legislative power"