Sri Lanka’s Speaker draws flak from Opposition for ‘violating’ Constitution
The HinduSri Lanka’s main Opposition party has accused parliamentary Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana of “violating” the Constitution, in clearing the appointment of a controversial official as the island’s police chief. When The Hindu contacted the Speaker for comment, he said Mr. Premadasa’s accusation was “totally baseless.” “If they think there is a violation, they have to go to the courts, not come to parliament,” said Mr. Abeywardana, a member of the Rajapaksas’ Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, the ruling party currently backing President Ranil Wickremesinghe. After he was made Acting IGP, at least seven Fundamental Rights petitions were filed at Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court, challenging the appointment. Sumanthiran filed a Fundamental Rights petition challenging the passage of the Online Safety Act, in which he accused the Speaker of clearing the legislation, “in contravention of” constitutional provisions.
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