CC first: UNP and JVP insist

The UNP and the JVP both want the Constitutional Council appointed prior to the appointment of a new Secretary General of Parliament after the term of the serving SG ends in March.

The Opposition demands came amidst reports that former Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Kitulgoda who served in the post between 1999 and 2002 is to be re-appointed to the post after the present incumbent Priyanee Wijesekera retires from the post.

Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera said that any attempt by the President to appoint a new Secretary General without first appointment the CC would be unconstitutional and would be resisted by the UNP.

“Even though there are no hurdles to appointing the CC now, the President is postponing its appointment so he can appoint a Secretary General as he wishes without going through the CC,” he said. He said the UNP would take whatever action it can in Parliament and also mobilise civil society groups to resist such unconstitutional moves.

JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa said that his party too would take action within the Parliament if the appointing of the Secretary General takes place before the CC is appointed but declined to explain what the action would be.

“The President wants to appoint several important posts including the Parliament Secretary General’s post as he wishes and for that, he is delaying the appointing of the CC,” he said.