‘Govt will not interfere with Judiciary’

* Condemns attack on JSC Secretary

* Certain elements trying to create rift

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

The government will never interfere in affairs of the Judiciary since it firmly stands for safeguarding the people’s democratic rights, SLFP General Secretary Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.

The minister said the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary are the guardian of the democratic rights of the people and always perform a pivotal role in protecting and safeguarding these rights.

These three bodies are committed to serve the people, Sirisena told a media briefing at the Mahaweli Centre yesterday on the current issues related to the Judiciary and the Legislature.

Commenting on Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa’s statement on Tuesday in relation to the Divi Neguma Bill, Minister Sirisena said the Speaker detailed the Rights of the Legislature.

He said in terms of Article 121 (1) of the constitution, a reference made by the President or a petition filed by a citizen before the Supreme Court should be delivered to the Speaker of Parliament and not to the Secretary General of Parliament.

Speaking on the government’s stand on the attack on Judiciary Services Commission Secretary Manjula Thilakaratne, the minister said the government condemns the attack since such attacks pose a danger to the independence of the Judiciary.

Sirisena said on every occasion such incidents were reported, the Police have been ordered to carry out a probe and take the suspects into custody.

He said elements who want to create a rift between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary to destabilise the country, may be the ones behind the attack.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the government condemns the attack.

“The government has taken measures swiftly and effectively to apprehend the culprits and bring those responsible before the law,” he said. Ministers Susil Premajayantha and Dullas Allahapperuma also spoke.

[Executive, Legislature and Judiciary: Parliamentary Committee to go into public debate]

The government will appoint a Parliamentary Committee to go into the current debate in relation to the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary, Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.

The minister denied there was any power struggle between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, but admitted there was a public debate surrounding these bodies.

He said therefore, their attention has been drawn towards the possibility of appointing a Parliamentary Committee to look into the issues raised in those debates.

The minister said Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe also pointed out in Parliament the need for appointing such a committee to deliberate on these issues.

The government agreed with his suggestion and is looking at appointing a Parliamentary Committee. Opposition members will also be represented in the Committee, Sirisena said.

He said the government stance is to clarify the ideas that emerge in these debates, within Parliament.