Uproar by UNP over legality of President’s signature
[09 Dec 2000]

The UNP sounded up against the legality of President’s signature on the proclamation distributed in the parliament in extending the state of emergency.

The UNP stated that the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge was not in the country on 04 December 2000 on the day of issuing the proclamation.

The opposition members argued that the constitution requires that a proper proclamation be made and be duly communicated to parliament. Nevertheless when the proclamation’s legality was under question the emergency extension could not be put to vote.

Under this circumstances the Speaker Anura Bandaranaike said the UNP should allow the matter to be voted upon as the emergency would otherwise lapse.

However the vote was won by 101 votes extending the state of emergency for one month.

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