The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition

¶ 01 Please! I said I am not challenging your Ruling. So, please listen.

¶ 02 Sir, I must congratulate you on the Ruling you made. Of course, the author may be somebody else. I am happy at the way you have basically read out a Ruling authored by a third party. Anyway, be that as it may, it is very important to understand that the primacy is people’s sovereignty. We are provided with the three branches — the Judiciary, the Legislature and the Executive. The Legislature, which comprises 225 Members, we derive from people’s sovereignty. The checks and balances are also a very important component of this process. So, all I am trying to tell you, Hon. Speaker, is that the establishment— Sir, I would like you to pay your fullest attention.

¶ 03 Why was the Constitutional Council established? The Constitutional Council was established to ensure that you have additional checks and balances, to check the other branches of government. Similarly, Parliament, this Chamber, and all of its Members are bestowed with the responsibility to ensure that the people’s sovereignty is protected. So, our request to have a Select Committee is to promote and protect the independence of the Judiciary; we are trying to promote the independence of the Judiciary.

¶ 04 You mentioned about Montesquieu and various other authorities, but the basic fact is,—