Professionals, religious leaders and civil society activists representing 28 organisations yesterday stressed the importance of holding a snap election soon to solve current political instability.
They said that holding a snap poll is the only way to solve the present instability in the country.
Former Chief Justice Sarath N.Silva yesterday said that the country is in an unprecedented crisis situation and holding a snap election is the only way out this. The former CJ said that Only President has the power to dissolve Parliament and no one else has that power.
He added that President Maithripala Sirisena issued a proclamation dissolving Parliament and the Supreme Court stayed the proclamation after considering FR petitions that sought an order to nullify the proclamation,” he said.
“On the other hand holding of an election to elect a fresh parliament has also stayed. The Court of Appeal has also stayed the Cabinet of Ministers,” he said.
Silva added that there should be a solution for this crisis and the country cannot go forward without a stable government.
“Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe may want to continue this instability without going for an election. But we don’t want. We want to have a stable country by electing a fresh parliament,” he said.
He added that no one will benefit,if instability reigns in the country. “The country has never witnessed instability as today since the introduction of universal franchise. We should be thankful to the people of all communities for exercising restraint,” he said.
The former Chief Justice added that the Constitution of the country is the supreme law of the land which has given a pride of place for people’s soverenity.
“The people’s right to elect the representatives of their choice by way of an election has been denied and this is a tragedy,” he said. Silva added that every institution in the country should be dedicated to protect and promote the people’s sovereignty. “The people will elect representatives of their choice to Parliament at an election. The country’s economy may collapse if the present instability continues,” he said.
The former Chief Justice asked as to why the United National Party and its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe show hesitation for an election.
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