UNP warns of mass protests unless govt. heeds SC ruling

By Shamindra Ferdinando

UNP Deputy Leader and parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa yesterday said that there would be a mass uprising if the government went ahead with the impeachment process to remove Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, regardless of Thursday’s Court of Appeal ruling.

Premadasa urged the government to heed the warning or face the consequences.

The Court of Appeal said the steps that had been so far taken and would be taken by a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), appointed under Standing Order 78A, were prime facie void.

The Court of Appeal read out the Supreme Court interpretation in respect of Article 107/3.



Responding to government’s declaration that the impeachment process was on track in spite of various attempts to undermine the effort, Premadasa said that ruling coalition’s response to the Court of Appeal ruling would determine the fate of the Rajapaksa government.

He said that a showdown between the government and the judiciary could turn into a people’s protest movement. Such a development would not only decide the fate of the government but impact on the country as well.Premadasa said that as the main opposition the UNP would have a major role to play in leading a people’s campaign.

Asked whether the UNP was trying to exploit the situation, the MP said that the Opposition could not be blamed for the government’s failure to realise that only the Supreme Court could interpret the Constitution. That was the Supreme Court’s prerogative, the MP said, adding that the government could devolve power of the SC.

The UNP Deputy regretted that the government had been engaged in a politically motivated campaign, though a section of its own was opposed to the strategy.