Impeachment debate in Parliament on 11th and 12th
The Parliamentary debate related to the impeachment will be held tomorrow and the day after. The two main political parties in the country are bound to safeguard the sovereignty of the people. Parliamentarians made these references at a media conference held in Colombo today.
Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that Parliament will debate the Impeachment on the 10th and 11th and the 225 members will vote on the 11th according to their conscience for its adoption. The United National Party and the Alliance Government and intellectuals in the judiciary including former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva claim that the judiciary cannot grab the power of the legislature for whatever reason. It should not be forgotten that the legislature is the peoples’ sovereignty. As such, the Minister said that no one can interfere or challenge it.
Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena said that the Government has a two thirds majority. The people have given a mandate to the Government. It is responsible to the people and if the people are responsible to the Government after six years, there should be some responsible place to probe the misconduct of a person in the Supreme Court. This is clearly mentioned in the Constitution. He pointed out that it is the Parliament which had the power to resolve the judiciary issue. This has been mentioned in 2006 by Desmond Fernando, who was the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka. He said that as a Government they had initiated the first process. The second process will take place tomorrow. On the 11th a voting will take place. Thereafter the President will take a decision on it. He added that this decision will be implemented by the Government along with the people and in accordance with the constitution.
Parliamentarian Thilanga Sumathipala said that clearly knowing that Parliament has the power according to the Constitution, the Court has issued a writ order. Normally if an Appeals court gives such an order, anyone had to approach the Supreme Court seeking justice. But he queried as to how this could be done as the Chief Justice is the judge of the Supreme Court. He also queried as to who has breached the trust and honour of the judiciary. He stressed that they cannot permit her to destroy the trust, image and respect of the judiciary.