Legislature challenging SC interim order

Judiciary may take drastic step: Opposition

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

The Judiciary may take a drastic step if the legislature takes  action against it with regard to the order issued by Supreme Courts to  Finance Secretary and other officers to allocate funds for the local  government election, Members of Opposition argued in Parliament  yesterday.   

“Don’t think the Judiciary will keep quiet if you try to  inflict undue influence,” Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella told  Parliament. He said this in response to a privilege issue raised by  State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe under which he requested  them the legislature to take some action to prevent the spending of funds  for the local polls till the privilege committee looks into the issue  raised by MP Premnath Dolawatte who said earlier that the Supreme Court  order had violated the privileges of Parliament.   

MP Rauff Hakeem said challenging the Supreme Court decision  and preventing the implementation of its ruling would create an unwanted  conflict between the judiciary and the legislature.   

MP Dolawatte who responded to the opposition during the latter  half of Parliament sessions said he is very well aware of what he is  doing. “I am aware of what I say and do in and out of Parliament as I  have given careful thought to what I am doing,” he said.