UNP to impeach the President

By Nirmala Kannangara

The UNP yesterday charged that it would bring an impeachment motion against President Mahinda Rajapakse in the event he fails to appoint the Constitutional Council (CC).

UNP MP Gayantha Karunathilake told The Morning Leader yesterday that the UNP has already taken steps to institute legal action against President’s failure, and plans were afoot to bring an impeachment motion against the President, for the intentional violation of the constitution by not appointing members to the Constitutional Council.

"Even the President, referring to constitutional provisions, once said that it is beyond doubt that the implementation of constitutional provisions is the basic duty of the government. In such a scenario the UNP would wish to know as to why the same President is now delaying the appointment of the CC as he is bound to uphold the constitution," claimed Karunathilake.

Karunathilake further stated that Sri Lanka has now become a failed state before the international community as the Rajapakse administration has miserably failed to uphold the constitution, the highest law in the country.

"Blatant appointments of political favourites to independent commissions have increased alarmingly. Since all the relevant political parties have now forwarded their nominations to the President, it is the bounden duty of President Rajapakse to appoint the CC at the earliest or face serious consequences," added Karunathilake.