Sri Lanka's Political Co-habitation Shows Signs of Uneasiness: Minister

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, March 13, 2002

Sri Lanka's Political Co-habitation Shows Signs of Uneasiness: Minister

Sri Lanka's Constitutional Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris on Wednesday alleged that President Chandrika Kumaratunga had violated the country's constitution.

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Sri Lanka's Constitutional Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris on Wednesday alleged that President Chandrika Kumaratunga had violated the country's constitution.

Peiris said that the president's delay in naming the Constitutional Council is a violation of the 17th amendment to the constitution.

Peiris told reporters that Kumaratunga had failed to nominate the council despite the nominees of other parties to the Constitutional Council had been made known to her as far back as February 21.

"The constitution requires the president to appoint the council forthwith," Peiris charged, claiming that the president's nominee to the council was yet to be named.

In accordance with the 17th amendment to the constitution, the Constitutional Council appoints individuals to independent commissions on elections, police and public service.

The ruling United National Party (UNP) and Kumaratunga's People's Alliance who controls the legislature and the presidency respectively have provided the country with political co- habitation which has often shown signs of uneasiness.

Peiris said that Kumaratunga's delay in executing a cabinet reshuffle required by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was another sign of strain on political co-habitation. "The president delayed the cabinet reshuffle no less than five times," Peiris added.

The minister said the government was looking forward to a renewed mandate in the March 20 local election which the UNP said is confident of winning.

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