President's action on Commissions democratic, legal - Minister Nimal Siripala

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa acted democratically in re-establishing the Commissions and his action was both legal and just, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said yesterday.

De Silva was commenting on UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya's accusations regarding the appointment of the National Police commission and others by the President.

The Minister also stressed that the President exercised his executive power in the interest of maintaining law, order and peace. He added that contrary to the UNP's views, not establishing the Commissions would have been the actions of a dictator.

The Minister alleged that Jayasuriya was disregarding the long standing history regarding the establishment of the Commissions adding that the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe delayed their appointment when the UNP was in power.

With regards to the lawsuit filed by the UNP calling the appointment of the Commissions unconstitutional, the Minister pointed out that the SLFP will accept the verdict of the court, whatever it may be, although the SLFP stands by the President's move.