Govt. requests not to act on SC interim order on LG polls

10 March 2023 11:14 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 27 Bookmark

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State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe requested Deputy Speaker to advise relevant authorities not to proceed and take any action on the interim order given by the Supreme Court with regard to the Local Government election until the Parliamentary Committee on Ethics and Privileges concludes its hearing on the privilege issue raised by MP Premanath C Dollewatte.

Raising a privillege issue, Minister told Parliament that it is a serious offence to implement the interim order before hearing the privilege issue by the Parliamentary Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

He said the letter sent by the Chairman of the Elections Commission to the Finance Ministry with regard to the Interim order has further breached the privileges of the members of Parliament and requested the Deputy Speaker to refer the letter to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges and conduct an inquiry. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)

Comments - 27

Lion Friday, 10 March 2023 11:39 AM

What is this people are trying to do to this country. Now it is very clear that they wan to rule the country with considering even ruling given by judiciary. They are heading for dictator ship and all must get together to chase this people out .

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Gregory Davy Friday, 10 March 2023 12:20 PM

Exactly,

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joshua Friday, 10 March 2023 12:08 PM

what is this Parliamentary Committee on Ethics and Privileges in a robbers den?

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sam Friday, 10 March 2023 12:11 PM

This man should face a contempt charge

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Sunil Friday, 10 March 2023 12:14 PM

I do not understand all this legal jargon. I only want the local government elections to be held as soon as possible, ensuring the democratic rights of the people.

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Ranjith Perera Friday, 10 March 2023 12:25 PM

Interpretation of constitution is prerogative of the Supreme Court. If there is doubt of Supreme Court decision in giving orders to release funds and act upon,the president can seek Supreme Court opinion through the Chief Justice and the court instead of promoting anarchism

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pradeep Friday, 10 March 2023 12:34 PM

Fear of Elections, Shameful act

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Aquarius Friday, 10 March 2023 12:36 PM

Now a State Minister is questioning a SC decision and recommending not to act upon it. This is the death of our democracy, or what is left of it. The SC should act on these pohottuwa agendas to kill our freedom and rights.

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pradeep Friday, 10 March 2023 12:40 PM

This stupid games by the government just to survive another couple of months will end by a another disaster

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vivek Friday, 10 March 2023 12:51 PM

SC order breaches the privileges of MP's-OMG What about the rights of the people to elect their representatives, which you morally bankrupt politicians are refusing to acknowledge even after a SC ruling

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Man Friday, 10 March 2023 12:52 PM

Nothing to waste time but legal action needed to be taken against the officials for the contempt of court, particularly against the Treasury secretary as of now. Because, the judiciary and legislature are independent to one another. The UN must be notified for observing the results and consequences in Sri Lanka.

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Thanos Friday, 10 March 2023 12:53 PM

These guys are promoting Anarchy

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ravin Friday, 10 March 2023 01:05 PM

Oh !! "not to act on SC interim order"? Doesn't this amount contempt of court? Legal experts please pursue this statement . Give these a..holes run for their stupidity.

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Needed Friday, 10 March 2023 01:13 PM

Can anyone be above a SC order???? Please enlighten us!!

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Lion Friday, 10 March 2023 01:16 PM

These guys no very well that ,if the election is held that they will be no where and that will be the beginning of the end of their plush life in the parliament,

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Tak Tik Tuk Friday, 10 March 2023 01:28 PM

Only issue here is Government is preventing the LG election, which is a violation of privileges of Sri Lankan voters

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Preshi Rem Friday, 10 March 2023 01:44 PM

What privilege are we talking about here? Parliamentarians get their power from the people. All privilege etc are only because of the powers vested in them BY THE PEOPLE. The parliament approved a budget which allocated money for the election to uphold the peoples rights. When the courts order to uphold the rights of the peaople, that is a loss of privilege for parliamentarians who is there representing the same people? Has dolawatta lost his mind? He calls himself a lawyer?

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gamarala Friday, 10 March 2023 01:44 PM

The thing is these people in parliament forget all the privileges they enjoy are created by themselves using people's power. All the others are secondary. People should have some way to remove them if they wish.

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Clean Suit Empty Pocket Friday, 10 March 2023 01:51 PM

The Supreme Court only said if there is a plan in the finance ministry based on which funds were allocated for an election. Atleast that amount of funds as planned should be kept for elections without using for something else. So if the allocation is 10m and total requirement is 13m all parties must reduce the cost to 10m in order to have the election. Further if the Fin Min has planned to release the funds in August or a latter date they can release on such date without violating court orders. Another factor to ask ourselves as we love democracy so much is aprt for the 10m for the elections has the Budget reserved salaries for the new 9000 local gov persons lets assume each is costing 15,000 then 15,000x9000x12 months = Rs1.62Bn per year to get the roads swept and street lights working. We protest about an expenditure of 111m for Independence day and desperately want to incurr an additional cost of 1.62Bn per year because we want democracy so badly. Seriously?

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S. Samarakoon Friday, 10 March 2023 01:52 PM

Jail FM Secretary for Contempt since he is the Chief Accounting Officer. Remember that even Amin was driven out with People's Power !! Uganda may be their only destination today.

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Raj Friday, 10 March 2023 11:36 PM

Pl refer to section 52(2) of the constitution, which says “The Secretary to a Ministry shall, subject to the direction and control of his Minister, exercise supervision over the departments of government and other institutions in charge of the Minister”. This is very simple, Secretary is only an officer who works subject to the “direction and control of the minister” as per the Constitution. So, how can a secretary takes decisions on his own? Pl study the constitution before sling mud on secretaries and try to put them in jail.

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Raj Friday, 10 March 2023 11:36 PM

Pl refer to section 52(2) of the constitution, which says “The Secretary to a Ministry shall, subject to the direction and control of his Minister, exercise supervision over the departments of government and other institutions in charge of the Minister”. This is very simple, Secretary is only an officer who works subject to the “direction and control of the minister” as per the Constitution. So, how can a secretary takes decisions on his own? Pl study the constitution before sling mud on secretaries and try to put them in jail.

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International Citizen Friday, 10 March 2023 02:09 PM

Makes sense since Chamal Rajapaksha is now the head of Parliamentary Committee on Ethics and Privileges. Nice move

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Democrat Friday, 10 March 2023 03:19 PM

These rascals are working overtime to see that the Elections are derailed. They need mob treatment.

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Mizaru Friday, 10 March 2023 03:24 PM

How can holding an election in a democratic (so called) be an ethical problem to a MP?

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A. Perera Friday, 10 March 2023 07:25 PM

These are, all delay tactics. If tge LG polls are not held as per the SC ruling then there is going to be so. much trouble!! We, the citizens of this country, excercise constitutional right to demand that the election be held before mid April.

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Wilabada Piyasiri Saturday, 11 March 2023 06:00 AM

It is very clear to even a small kid the ulterior intentions of the Government. This stubborn behaviour will not get changed unless international pressure is exerted on the rullers. Over to International democratic Institottions / Funding Agencies.!

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