Varsity academics want CC set up

The Peradeniya University academic staff has urged the President to appoint the Constitutional Council in conformity with the 17th Amendment to the Constitution.

“As academic staff of the Universities we strongly endorse the appeals made by the religious leaders, civil and professional organisations, including the Organization of Professional Associations to the President urging the immediate appointment of the Constitutional Council,” the academic staff said in a signed letter to the President.

The 91 signatories also said that although it is regrettable that the Constitutional Council has been inoperative since 2005 for various reasons, all barriers to its appointment have now been removed with the agreement been reached regarding the final nominee.

The 17th Amendment has provided for several critical institutions of governance including the Elections and Public Service Commissions, the Police and Bribery Commissions to function fairly free of political influence, they said.

“Accordingly it was made mandatory for all appointees to these Commissions to be nominated by the Constitutional Council and for judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, as well as the members of the Judicial Services Commission, the Attorney General, Auditor General, Inspector General of Police, the Ombudsman and Secretary General of Parliament to be appointed only after approval by the Constitutional Council,” the academic staff said.

They further said that Articles 41B(1) and 41C(1) of the Constitution specifically prohibit the President from making appointments to any of these posts without the prior recommendation or approval of the Constitutional Council.