May 02, 2020 (LBO) – Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya says that he will not reconvene the Parliament unilaterally and contribute to aggravate the emerging constitutional dispute.
Releasing a statement, Jayasuriya further states that he is bound to uphold the constitution and to act as per the verdict of the judiciary as the Speaker of the dissolved Parliament.
Full statement
Recently, a majority of Opposition MPs of the dissolved Parliament requested from H.E. President to reconvene the Parliament to avert a constitutional crisis, in doing so, they pledged to fully support the government to overcome the pandemic, in the event of it being reconvened.
In a recent twitter message, I expressed my view that the said development was a timely democratic step that involved all stakeholders to reach a consensus in the current situation. In doing so, as the Speaker of the dissolved Parliament, I have stood by the well-intentioned proposals in the said request. However, it was not, on my part, a proposal to reconvene the Parliament, but an endorsement of steps to democratically solve a looming issue, made in good faith and in the name of the country.
It was unfortunate that some people had crudely misinterpreted my position. As I have clearly indicated here, in my capacity as the former Speaker of the dissolved Parliament, I will not reconvene the Parliament unilaterally and contribute to aggravate the emerging constitutional dispute. Further, cognizant of my national responsibility, I state that I am bound to uphold the constitution and to act as per the verdict of the judiciary.
පැවති-පාර්ලිමේන්තුව-යළි-කැඳවීම-පිළිබඳව-2020.05.02