Parliament is solely responsible for public finance; hence, the judiciary should refrain from issuing directions. Speaker’s ruling:

The legislature should not infringe on the judiciary or the rights of the people, says the opposition.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, while dismissing the request made by Opposition MPs to change his ruling on the domestic debt restructure today, stressed the relevant verdict was taken after proper legal advice.

He said that Parliament is fully responsible for the public finances of the country. “The financial administration of the country lies with parliament “, he said.

The Opposition MPs said the ruling given by the Speaker on August 9 that the Judiciary is not empowered to issue orders or judgements of any nature against a resolution passed by the legislature could set a bad precedent and lead to a conflict between Parliament and the judiciary and a Constitutional crisis.

Parliamentarian Prof. GL Peris said that the speaker’s ruling will trigger a constitutional crisis.