Letter
Opposition writes to Chamal: Debate on impeachment violates Constitution
8th January 2013
Hon. Speaker
The Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.
Hon Speaker,
Debate on the impeachment of the Hon. Chief Justice
We write to express our protest against the decision taken at the Party Leaders’ meeting yesterday to take the above matter up for debate in Parliament on 10th and 11th January, 2013.
Speaker Anura Bandaranaike and the Judgment of Justice Amaratunga spelled out the powers of Parliament. This is endorsed by the ruling given by you on 9th October which states as follows:
“The right to interpret the Constitution is the province solely of the Supreme Court that must not be disturbed and their learned decisions on interpretation must be treated with great respect. It is the interpretation of the Supreme Court that must stand……I should not make any ruling on this matter in following the Constitution, as it is a territory that is the exclusive preserve of the Supreme Court”.
In the light of this, no Resolution for the removal of a Judge under Article 107(3) can be proceeded unless and until an independent body of persons is established by law.
If the resolution is allowed to be proceeded without adhering to the above, it will amount to a serious violation of the Constitution and a breakdown of the rule of law.
In these circumstances we request you to summon a Party Leaders’ Meeting to discuss this constitutional issue that has arisen.
Yours faithfully,
Sgd : Ranil Wickramasinghe
John Amaratunga
Mavai Senathirajah
Suresh Premachandran
Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Vijitha Herath