27 July 2024 12:00 am Views - 75
In response to Prime Minister’s request to rule on the Supreme Court barring IGP (Inspector General of Police) from functioning in his office for an interim period, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said he, as the chair of the Constitutional Council, had acted duly in terms of the Constitution in making the appointment.
Making his remarks on the matter, the Speaker said the court had given its interim order on the premise that he made a wrong decision. He said he acted lawfully in this regard.
According to Article 41 (C) of the Constitution, he stated that he, as the Chairman of the Constitutional Council, have the power to vote in the event of an equality of votes for the appointment of the IGP. Equality resulted from two members of the Council abstaining from voting.
“Whatever anyone might say, nothing wrong has been done. There is a procedure laid down in the Constitution to remove an official appointed in this manner. If you are aggrieved, you can follow the procedure or go to the Supreme Court. Otherwise, the President has nothing to do in this case,” he said.
Parliamentarian Gevindu Cumaratunga tried to dispute the Speaker, but he was shot down.