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

• The letter sent by the Chairman of the Elections Commission to the Finance Ministry with regard to the Interim order has  breached the privileges of MPs
• It is a serious offence to implement the interim order before hearing the privilege issue

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe requested Deputy Speaker to advice 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 Premnath C. Dolawatte.

Raising a privilege issue, the 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.

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa and the SJB MPs who opposed the move alleged that this move is a part of a conspiracy to postpone the local government polls.