UNP pursues ‘joint opposition’ to challenge President’s appointments

BYPASSING CC ILLEGAL

By Jayantha Sri Nissanka

The UNP is planning to forge a joint opposition coalition to challenge appointments made by President Rajapaksa to various Gover-nment Institutions without appointing the Constitutional Council (CC) which is mandated to make these appointments.
“We are discussing the move with other opposition parties”, UNP Spokesman Lakshman Kiriella said.
He said that appointments made by the President without the approval of the Constitutional Council are illegal. “Therefore, we will file action against those who received posts without the sanction of the Constitutional Council,’’ he said.
Kiriella said that as they cannot file action against the President, they are planning to have the Supreme Court nullify the appointments made to his confidantes. He said “Those people do not have the right to sit on those chairs as they were not properly appointed by the proper procedure. There is one judgement with regard to such appointments by Justice Mark Fernando”.
Kiriella queried if the Government proffers excuses that the CC cannot make appointments as there is a Select Committee in session, how the Government is holding Local Government elections in the East when there is a Select Committee in session on Electoral reforms.