Two national lists from UPFA holding up forming the new government

[BackstageTop contributor]

* Two national lists from UPFA holding up forming the new government in Sri Lanka - report
Thu, Aug 20, 2015, 09:35 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Aug 20, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Election Commissioner has not been able to release the official election results yet and therefore the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe has not been sworn in delaying the appointment of the new government, reports from Colombo say.

Reportedly, the Election Commissioner has faced a crisis with the national lists of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) as both former General Secretary of UPFA Susil Premajayantha and the new General Secretary Vishwa Warnapala have submitted two lists of names for the UPFA national list MP slots.

The Election Commissioner has faced a legal conundrum on which list to accept, according to sources.

Until the national list MPs are finalized, the Election Commissioner cannot decide the composition of the parliament and gazette the final election results. The Prime Minister and the MPs cannot be sworn in until the results are gazetted.

According to sources, since Premajayantha was suspended from the General Secretary post by the post he cannot legally produce a national list. However, there is a legal issue on the appointment of Warnapala as the acting General Secretary of UPFA by the President.

According to the UPFA constitution the power to appoint a general secretary to the alliance lies with its main constituent Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). The question arisen was whether the President as the chairman of the SLFP represents the party.

Reportedly the Election Commissioner has sought the legal consultation on the issue and will hold a meeting with the Attorney General today. However the Election Commissioner has the authority to decide which list of the UPFA to accept.

Meanwhile, the day to day functions of the government have also been affected since the secretaries to the ministries no longer have their posts after the election until the new government appoints new ministers and secretaries.

According to a senior government official only the Secretary to the President and Defense Secretary have administrative powers and not even the Treasury Secretary has the authority to approve financial transactions although the government has international obligations and deadlines to meet.

According to the Constitution the election results should be gazetted within a week of the election and hence it is expected that the results will be gazetted before next Monday (24) and the new government can be formed.

[jiggysaurusTop contributor]

How the power of the Vashi Boley? The back bench MP from kurunagala squeezes his boley and delays a government. Very Powerful.

[nihal123Top contributor]

Thanks Back

[guruji]

Aiyo still country not stable

[කිත්සිරි ද සිල්වාTop contributor]

Let him come first and then we will see that his seat and civil rights taken away for 7 years.

How the power of the Vashi Boley? The back bench MP from kurunagala squeezes his boley and delays a government. Very Powerful.