“So-called constitutional expert; an expert in contradiction,” says Dr. Amunugama
[October 23, 2002  - 6.45 GMT]

“The so-called constitutional expert is an expert in contradiction,” said Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Spokesman for the People’s Alliance (PA) – the main opposition party in Parliament. Referring to a news item in the Sunday Times of July 28, 2002 quoting Professor G.L. Peiris on the Constitutional powers of the President to remove a Minister, he lamented that Professor Peiris was fast acquiring a reputation as one who contradicts himself habitually.

UNF spokesman Prof G L Pieris asked about the Supreme Court’s rejection of the 19^th amendment, which sought to reduce Presidential powers, said his Government had other options. Peiris held the Government had the authority to determine allocations of public funds and that the authority would be exercised in full. Parliament he said can request for its own dissolution but the final decision on this will have to be made by the President. The President would be obliged to accede to such a request, he added responding to journalists at the cabinet press briefing on 17 October. 

Dismissing Professor Peiris’ comments as “A cheap and weakly veiled threat directed at the President,” Dr. Amunugama said that it seemed even more evident in the context of the intimidation by some Cabinet Ministers previously. He described the pronouncements made by Professor Peiris on Thursday and the subsequent news reports in all Government friendly news media as “The latest chapter in the horror story of governance of terror begun by the UNF since they assumed power nine months ago.” 

“Previous chapters consisted of harassment of all political opponents, our Members of Parliament, Provincial Councillors, Pradeshiya Sabha members and our party supporters,” Amunugama added.  He said the tactics used against his party men ranged from “murder, arson, physical assault and damage to property.”  Amunugama also referred to the arrest of 96 Police and Army personnel attached to the President’s Security Division on trumped up charges as an act of deliberate intimidation of the elected Head of State. He recalled the many instances of abuse hurled at the President by Cabinet Ministers using State and ‘State controlled Private Media’. An obviously angry PA spokesman said his party was taking legal action both in Sri Lanka and internationally against what he termed the UNP’s rein of terror, targeted at the President and democratic opposition Parties.

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Last Updated Date: October 23, 2002  - 6.45 GMT.