Petition filed against Fonseka’s appointment as MP dismissed

A Fundamental Rights (FR) petition filed against the appointment of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka as a Member of Parliament was dismissed?by the Supreme Court today.

The petition was filed by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), a Colombo based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO).

The CPA and its Executive Director filed the?Fundamental Rights application challenging the appointment of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka to fill the vacancy created by the death of Mr. M. K. A. D. S. Gunawardana, as a Member of Parliament elected in terms of Article 99A of the Constitution (the National List).

CPA?s position is that in terms of Article 99A of the Constitution, only a person whose name was included in the district nomination papers or national list submitted by the relevant political party, is entitled to be nominated to fill such a vacancy.

In its Petition, CPA stated that the appointment of a person as a Member of Parliament contrary to the provisions of the Constitution violates several rights guaranteed under the Constitution and in particular the franchise which is part of the sovereignty of the people. Furthermore, CPA argues that any attempt to interpret legislation in a manner contrary to the provisions of the Constitution would imperil the supremacy of the Constitution, which is the cornerstone of constitutional democracy. (Colombo Gazette)