House calls for a PSC

Both the government and the opposition yesterday called for a Parliament Select Committee (PSC) to inquire into the incident where the Foreign Ministry Additional Secretary had called judicial officers including the Chief Justice for a meeting with the visiting UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Freedom of Association, Clement Nyaltessoi on Tuesday.

UPFA MP and Chief Opposition Whip Mahinda Amaraweera told parliament that the scheduled meeting to discuss judicial matters with a foreign official was a serious matter and requested for a PSC.

He said the responsible officials should be summoned before the PSC and probed as to how the Additional Secretary had received the instructions to arrange such a meeting.

MP Dinesh Gunawardane said if they had not informed the House about the matter in time, the meeting could have taken place as arranged, risking the independence of the judiciary.

He said the Additional Secretary of the Foreign Ministry who was involved in the incident should resign and move on to another department.

Non-Cabinet Minister Ajith P. Perera said this was not the policy of the government and requested for a mechanism to prevent such activities in the future.

Non-Cabinet Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe, who agreed to the appointment of a PSC, said it should be investigated on what basis and on whose advice such a meeting was arranged.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said the appointment of a PSC could be discussed at the party leaders' meeting. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)