Govt blocks judiciary debate, Opposition holds emergency talks

The Opposition has convened an emergency meeting after the government refused to allow a parliamentary debate on the independence of the judiciary.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa chaired the meeting today (22) at his office in Parliament, with many Opposition Members of Parliament in attendance, to discuss the way forward following the government's rejection of the request.

The dispute traces back to the recent Party Leaders' meeting, at which the Opposition had called for a parliamentary debate grounded in core democratic principles, namely the tripartite system of governance comprising the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary, alongside the doctrines of separation of powers and checks and balances.

The government declined to agree to the request, prompting Opposition MPs to convene separately to determine their response.

During the emergency meeting, Opposition MPs stressed that matters affecting the independence of the Judiciary must be allowed to be debated openly in Parliament, underlining that the separation of powers and mutual checks and balances between the three branches of government form the very foundation of a democratic system of governance.

Opposition Leader Premadasa said that denying an opportunity to hold a parliamentary debate on judicial matters undermined democratic principles of governance.

The meeting was attended by MPs Rohini Wijerathna, Chitral Fernando, V. Radhakrishnan, Chaminda Wijesiri, Gayantha Karunathilaka, J. C. Alawathuwala, Sujith Sanjaya Perera, Kavinda Jayawardana, Chathura Galappaththi, Kabir Hashim, Ravi Karunanayake, M. S. A. Waseed, Rohana Bandara, W. H. M. Dharmasena, B. Ariyawansha, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Anuradha Jayaratne, Dr. Harsha de Silva, Rishad Bathiudeen, Rauff Hakeem, Ramanathan Archchuna, Nizam Kariapper, M. S. Uthumalebbe, Chanaka Madugoda, Suranga Rathnayaka, and Selvam Adaikkalanathan.