Standing Orders are also law - Yapa

Disna Mudalige

Maintaining peace and stability in the country should be the main concern of all, Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said.

He said the country’s future generation would suffer in the absence of peace and stability.

“Sri Lanka is a democratic country. Anybody can attain power by facing elections. For those who attempt to grab power through other means, I would like to tell them not to daydream. That won’t happen,” he said.

Yapa said the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary should work in harmony for the stability of a country.

“What we are witnessing is not a clash between the Legislature and Judiciary. Certain groups are conspiring to destabilise the country. People should not only totally reject this attempt, but also stand against it,” the minister said.

Yapa said according to the accepted practice in democracies, Parliament is vested with powers to take disciplinary action against judges of the Superior Courts. " Everywhere in the world, including the UK and USA, this power lies with Parliament. Today, there are many arguments on this matter. My view is that Standing Orders of Parliament are also considered as law, " he said.

The minister made these observations at a ceremony to open the reconstructed school building of the Dodampotha Primary School. The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau spent around Rs three million to upgrade the facilities of this rural school.