13 November 2018, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) warmly welcomes the Supreme Court’s decision today to stay the proclamation dissolving Parliament made by the President on 9 November 2018, until 7 December. The Court also granted leave to proceed on a number of fundamental rights applications including those by CPA and its Executive Director, Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu. CPA is the only civil society organisation to petition the Court against the President’s purported dissolution of Parliament, which we have clearly maintained is illegal and unconstitutional from the beginning. We look forward to pursuing this argument before the Court at the full hearing set for early December.
In granting interim relief in the form of staying the impugned dissolution, the Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Nalin Perera, Justice Priyantha Jayawardana, and Justice Prasanna Jayawardana, have acted to uphold constitutional due process in what was a rapidly deteriorating situation. It is a welcome intervention that will strengthen the prospects of a resolution to Sri Lanka’s current constitutional crisis. We commend the Supreme Court for strongly signalling its commitment to judicial independence, democracy, fundamental rights, the rule of law, and the Constitution of Sri Lanka.
Download this release as a PDF in English and Sinhala.
See the interim order granted in the CPA case here.
Executive Director Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu speaks outside the Supreme Court soon after the decision is given.