President Maithripala Sirisena had referred two other names to the Constitutional Council (CC) seeking approval to be appointed to the Supreme Court. The CC has been called upon to consider the names of two Court of Appeal judges, Deepali Wijesundera and Kumudini Wickremasinghe for the vacant posts in the Supreme Court.
The CC headed by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and represented by nominees of the other political parties and civil society had already approved the names of Justices Gamini Amarasekara and S Thurairajah for the vacant posts.
A member of the Constitutional Council told the Sunday Observer that since they have already approved two names there is no necessity for them to consider the names sent by the President.
Parliamentarian Dr Jayampathy Wickremaratne told the Sunday Observer that since the Council has done its duty by the Constitution there is no issue at present.
“This issue will prolong only if the President continuously refuses to make the appointments. An issue will be created by the President if he refuses to appoint them. The Constitutional Council has done its duty by the Constitution it is now up to the President,” Dr. Wickremaratne said.
Dr Wickremaratne said that Constitutions are made in the belief that all Constitutional functionaries would act according to the Constitution. It is, therefore, the duty of the President to abide by the Constitution and make the appointments, according to the recommendations. There is no alternative.
“The CC is a mechanism to achieve a national consensus of important appointments,” he said.