Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe says the nomination of A.H.M. Azwer (UPFA National List) to the Parliamentary Advisory Council by Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne is contrary to the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.
In a letter to Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, Mr. Wickremesinghe has said the Prime Minister has failed to make his nomination “within the stipulated period”. The period, according to the recent amendment, is one week.
Mr. Wickremesinghe’s remarks came in a letter in which he has nominated UNP National List MP, D.M. Swaminathan to serve in the Parliamentary Advisory Council. However, Mr. Swaminathan refuses to say whether he will or will not accept the appointment.
“I am yet to receive the letter confirming that I have been appointed to the Parliamentary Council. Only then could I make a statement about it,” he told the Sunday Times.
He said: “The opposition leader does not need my consent to recommend my name”.
Earlier, Mr. Wickremesinghe nominated Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran. But he rejected the move.
The rejection by Mr. Sumanthiran prompted Speaker Rajapaksa to write to Mr. Wickremesinghe to obtain the consent of the person before recommending his name.
In a reply to the Speaker, Mr. Wickremesinghe said, “You have requested me to obtain the consent of the nominee before I make the nomination. I have examined the Act and do not find any provision where I or for that matter the Prime Minister are required to obtain the consent of the nominee.” |
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