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| Sunday, 8 May 2005 |
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Politics |  |
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Governor Alavi sheds light on prorogation move Western Provincial Governor Alavi Mowlana in a candid talk with Sunday Observer staffer Anura Maitipe elaborates on why he prorogated Western Provincial Council. Q: The main Opposition UNP has levelled serious allegations against you for prorogation of the Western Provincial Council in an arbitrary manner. What have you got to say about it? A: I totally reject these allegations. I have not prorogued the Council in an arbitrary manner. I have acted according to Constitutional provisions vested in me under the Provincial Council Act. Under the 13th amendment to the Constitution, powers have been vested on the Governor to prorogue the Council for a maximum period of two months.I made use of these powers to prorogue the Council only for three weeks. Q: The UNP Council Members allege that you prorogued the Council in order to thwart the efforts made by them to move a no confidence motion against the Chief Minister Reginald Cooray. A: I have to uphold the status of my post. It is an accepted norm and principle of the law that if a person is charged for an offence he should be given an opportunity to defend himself.I acted in a neutral manner and gave him three weeks to prepare his defence. Q: Will these allegations be probed? A: Yes, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has already appointed a special Commission to probe into allegations levelled against Chief Minister Reginald Cooray. I have to be fair by all sides and it must be noted that a commission also needs a certain period of time to complete investigations. If I had not prorogued the Council it would have been great injustice meted out to the Chief Minister. "It is a usual procedure followed in a crisis situation even in the Parliament too. For instance at the time of impeachment motion was brought before the house against late President Premadasa, then Speaker of the House M. H. Mohammed too followed the same procedure and prorogued sessions of the house, and gave President Premadasa a chance to defend himself. Q: Will the Commission probe into these allegations within three weeks? A: I cannot comment on that, however after three weeks routine sessions of the Western Provincial Council will be resumed. Q: But the UNP members says that you have caused injustice to them by preventing them from moving the no confidence motion at an appropriate time. A: I have not caused any injustice to any party either opposition
or a ruling party.Once the prorogation period is over then the opposition
party could move their no confidence motion and there will be no hindrance
to that". |
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