Fri, 29 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

Follow UK House of Commons when Constitution unclear: Kiriella

22 November 2018 06:12 am - 11     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Coming up with a fresh argument on what should be done to resolve the present political crisis, the United National Party (UNP) yesterday said Sri Lankan Parliament was bound to follow the tradition of House of Commons of the UK when the Sri Lankan Constitution is unclear about certain situations.

This was expressed by UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella at a media briefing last morning.

Mr Kiriella said the House was bound to follow Section 7 of Parliament Powers and Privileges Act where it said the House was bound to follow the tradition of the House of Commons when the local constitution was unclear on certain situations.

“Parliament and members thereof shall hold, enjoy and exercise, in addition to the privileges, immunities and powers conferred by this Act, such and like immunities as are for the time being held, enjoyed and exercised by the Commons House of Parliament of United Kingdom,” the MP said reading out Section 7 of Parliament Powers and Privileges Act.

Accordingly, he said the tradition followed by the House of Commons when it comes to the appointment of a Prime Minister was that the person who held the majority was given the post.

Therefore he said President Maithripala Sirisena should appoint the person who commanded a majority in the House as the Prime Minister.

He said Secretaries to Ministries ceased to hold office upon a dissolution if the Cabinet under the Provisions of the Constitution or upon a determination by the President under the Article 43 or 44 which results in the Ministry ceasing to exist.

Mr Kiriella, therefore, said a Cabinet does not exist at the moment Speaker announced that it does not exist with the approval of the No Confidence Motion against the present regime.

“In such circumstances Secretaries cannot carry out any function at the moment,” he said.

Referring to the request that had been made by the venerable Mahanayakes to set up a Caretaker Government under newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe could not be fulfilled as there were no provisions for such a Government in the Constitution.

UNP MP Harshana Rajakaruna who also participated at the briefing said the Mahanayake Theras had expressed their displeasure over the present political crisis.

He said they expressed their displeasure when the UNP delegation met them on Tuesday. (Yohan Perera)

Pix by Nisal Baduge


Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 11

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • ConcernedCitizen Thursday, 22 November 2018 06:46 AM

    Mr Kiriella, the people who is supposed to know this, is acting blur. That is why we are in this mess. We citizens has elected an uneducated brunch where they do not know our own constitution, how will they know the laws ,norms and the traditions of the UK?

    Karu Thursday, 22 November 2018 07:03 AM

    Too much of expectations. We know only the Kasyappa act which is power at any cost.

    Pradeep Friday, 23 November 2018 07:06 AM

    It looks more like we are following Kremlin and Putin. Mr.Kiriella, you are barking up the wrong tree.

    Manu Thursday, 22 November 2018 07:28 AM

    These UNPers are slsves of the West. They have no brain to solve any problems by themselves. They always lick the boots of West.

    Rajan Thursday, 22 November 2018 07:36 AM

    To follow the House of Commons traditions we do not have respectable, educated members in our Parliament. Thus the constitution should specify a standard of education to contest the post of MP. Today mostly we have monkeys.

    Nikan-Sena Thursday, 22 November 2018 07:50 AM

    How can the most unpopular man appoint the most popular man for any position?

    Neville Thursday, 22 November 2018 07:53 AM

    You should have followed the same standards with media personal when you were in office!

    Kumar, Lawyer Thursday, 22 November 2018 08:21 AM

    I am not a fan of Rajapaksas but you are talking nonsense.When Sri Lanka became a republic, by definition all existing rules and agreements with the former colonial power in the conduct of the government became null and void at once.

    sam Thursday, 22 November 2018 12:40 PM

    what an idiot how can executive Presidency system be equaled

    Liyan Thursday, 22 November 2018 12:57 PM

    When things are not on their favour, these guys try to break and confuse everything. People of Sri Lanka have not given mandate to you guys to run coutry under UK constituion. If you can not follow please step down.

    BhathiyaK Thursday, 22 November 2018 08:45 PM

    This is not UK. Not a colony anymore.


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H