SC has no right to go against the legislature-MR

9 January 2013 04:34 am

No one can betray the sovereignty of the people, and the Supreme Court has no right to go against the legislature, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.

Addressing the ‘Swarna Purawara’ award ceremony that felicitated local government members at the Temple Trees, President Rajapaksa said that as a lawyer he had absolute confidence in the independence of the judiciary and therefore not only the judiciary but everyone must work to protect the independence and respect of the judiciary.

“High Court judges are appointed by the Chief Justice. The Chief Justice is appointed by the president. The president is appointed by the people. If the president commits an offence he can be impeached. For the impeachment a minimum of 113 Members of Parliament must sign. The Chief Justice must carry out the orders of the legislature. The unseating of the Chief Justice rests with legislature” he said.

He said that extraordinary things were taking place right now in Sri Lanka – things which could not be found in anywhere else in the world. However, he said he was committed to protect the independence of the judiciary.

“President Premadasa had a narrow escape from impeachment as the then Speaker Mohamed rejected those who attempted to impeach him. There are attempts to topple this government backed by the spirit of separatism and those who supported the LTTE, he said. “It was the JVP that said there were suspicions regarding the dealings of the husband of the Chief Justice. It was they who lodged complaints against him with the Bribery Commission. Now they are scolding me for the impeachment. The JVP says one thing in the morning and something else in the afternoon. But we cannot do that. We do what we say and we say what we do,” he said.

President Rajapaksa urged local government members to work always for the benefit of the people who elected them. Chairmen of local government bodies must not grab everything and they must give the opportunity for deputy chairmen and other members to advance. Some Chairmen never let go of the cheque book and keep it in their pockets all the time,” he said,
“The people are not for their representatives; the representatives are for the people. Therefore, people’s representatives must always be committed to serve the people. The government has launched a massive development drive and a massive allocation has been made for rural development. It is the responsibility of local government representatives to use these funds for the benefit of their people, said President Rajapaksa. (Sandun Jayasekera)