Lawyers’ Collective notes growing authoritarianism under President

26 November 2023 08:28 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 12 Bookmark

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Colombo, Nov.26 (Daily Mirror) - The Lawyers’ Collective, a prominent legal advocacy group in Sri Lanka, has noted its concern about the growing authoritarianism under Sri Lanka's President.

In a statement, the Lawyer’s Collective noted the growing authoritarianism of the President who serves without a mandate from the people. It further observed that people’s sovereignty as articulated by the Constitution cannot be flippantly dismissed as stated in several Supreme Court decisions, including a majority decision delivered recently on the economic crisis.

In a statement, the Lawyers’ Collective emphasised the importance of the corporate sector as well as the international community including the International Monetary Fund, taking grave notice of the growing authoritarianism of the President and the impact it has on good governance and the rule of law in Sri Lanka.

The Lawyers’ Collective fear that it would lead to political upheaval and further economic uncertainty, if this authoritarian trajectory of the President continues unchecked.

Meanwhile, the Lawyer’s Collective strongly condemned the recent attempt by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to intimidate the Constitutional Council of Sri Lanka.

"In an authoritarian move, on 23 November 2023, President Wickremesinghe in an address to Parliament entirely misrepresented the constitutional purpose of the Constitutional Council by stating that the ‘Council falls under the Executive’. The heavy-handed and dangerous public comments of the President constitute a serious undermining of constitutionally imposed checks and balances in the governance of the country," the statement added.

The Lawyer’s Collective maintained that the President’s decision to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee to probe into delays by the Constitutional Council constitutes a threat to the members of the Constitutional Council who are constitutionally mandated to deliberate on and independently decide on whether or not a presidential nominee will be approved.

On behalf of the Lawyers’ Collective, a group of President’s Counsels including Upul Jayasuriya, Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, Geoffrey Alagaratnam, M.A. Sumanthiran, Dinal Phillips, Saliya Pieris, Attorneys-at-law Prof. Savitri Goonesekere, Prof. Deepika Udagama, Lal Wijenayake, Upul Kumarapperuma and several others signed the statement.

Comments - 12

Rukmal Seneviratne Sunday, 26 November 2023 08:56 PM

Certain statements made by the president makes one seriously wonder whether he is of sound mind..

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Nimal Monday, 27 November 2023 05:14 AM

Most of these elderly politicians are not in a state of mind required to govern a country (i.e. vasudeva). There should a compulsory retirement age for all members of parliament.

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cineha Sunday, 26 November 2023 09:23 PM

Very much true. Ranil is one of the persons who advocated to bring in RTI, CC and various good governance measures when he was PM. Now after assuming executive powers he feels that the CC should be a mere rubber stamp to approve his nominees. Further he wishes to appoint a parliamentary select committee too to go in to the affairs of the CC.

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Ranjith Sunday, 26 November 2023 09:58 PM

RW is good to be Minister but not the President as a Minister he is under the control of other Ministers and President he is not good even as a PM just look at his behaviour and he think no end of himself this is the biggest mistake RW is making.

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L Jaya Monday, 27 November 2023 01:11 AM

President carries out his dictatorship behind close doors. When he address parliament every , he makes a mockery and slips away without answering opposition questions.

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Pay tax Monday, 27 November 2023 01:17 AM

You lawyers start doing the right thing by declaring your income correctly and paying income tax before talking about authoritarianism under President. You guys are becoming just another trade union pain like GMOA

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Amaran Monday, 27 November 2023 01:36 AM

RW is too greedy for powers, but NOT effective - Doing the right thing. He cannot understand ordinary people's requirement because of his appeoach. He should go and meet people from rural area. No-one can simply understand merely reading a paper r document submitted by another.

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Ram Monday, 27 November 2023 04:05 AM

The statements uttered by the President is a clear indication that his faculties are not working well. He must be made to undergo a Cognitive Impairment test. If he fails he must resign as he does not have suitable mental capacity to hold office

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Ram Monday, 27 November 2023 04:08 AM

President could be suffering from senile decay. I am reminded of RW as he was then, shouting in Parliament "Kavuda Hora, Mahinda Hora". He was convinced that Mahinda was corrupt. He must ASAP take action on the recent SC decision at least on the civic rights of those who were named

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City Monday, 27 November 2023 05:47 AM

When you go through the members it's obvious to see these comments. I think the state sector and Cc are opposing or delaying matters with political agenda.

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Nimal Monday, 27 November 2023 06:00 AM

He is living up to the name he created for himself as "Hitler" and that is the only assurance he has kept since becoming the pin president. Moreover, he is destroying all vestiges of democracy. The statements on the Constitutional Council is just one example. Even more heinous was the manner in which he asked the top officials of the Postal Department to grant their consent to his sordid request to handover the Post Office building at Nuwara Eliya, which now is a national heritage site. He was stating that state officials should acceded to orders by the president.

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Ruwan Monday, 27 November 2023 09:29 AM

Hahaha. What else can one expect of a group consisting Opposition Members. Ranil is growing because his predecessor failed to accomplish it himself.

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