Denying to hold cabinet meeting unconstitutional: Champika

Spurning to hold weekly cabinet meeting by President Maithripala Sirisena was a violation of the Constitution, participatory democracy and ethics of governance, Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

President Sirisena knowingly violated the Constitution on October 26 by forming an illegal government led by Mahinda Rajapaksa and again on November 9th by dissolving parliament unconstitutionally which the Supreme Court ruled that both actions were unconstitutional, he added.

“He has done it for the third time violating all norms of democracy, ethics and the Constitution. This action does not only damage the reputation of the country but creates a political, economical and financial damage and make the state administration weak and confusing,” Minister Ranawaka stressed.

Addressing a media briefing at the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) office at Battaramulla today, Minister Ranawaka pointed out that the refusal to hold weekly cabinet meeting has put the government and Parliament in a difficult position.

President is the head of the executive, cabinet and the government but is responsible to the legislature. On last Tuesday, there were 51 cabinet decisions to be confirmed in addition to 19 cabinet papers to be discussed. There were another 104 new appointments to be approved as well. All these have to be postponed indefinitely putting the government into a crisis, he said.

He charged this action was a slap on the 2015 mandate given to President Sirisena by 6.2 million people.

Commenting on the Parliament select committee probe on Easter Sunday attack, Minister Ranawaka said truth must have to be unearthed to expose those who are responsible for the carnage and who failed to take timely action to prevent the attack. Therefore, demanding to stop select committee proceedings was aimed at preventing the secrets behind it revealed.

“The cabinet met regularly and uninterrupted during the separatist war. I believe there will be a compromise between the government and President and cabinet meeting could be held on next Tuesday as usual. Otherwise, the crisis will become out of hand and disrupts the country and entire administration,” Minister Ranawaka stressed.