Attorney General Dappula De Livera refused to give a copy of his written submissions to the counsel for the petitioners in the 20th Amendment Bill determination cases, when counsel for the petitioners made an application for it to allow them to properly use their right to respond.
Dappula
The AG had briefly summarised his submissions but said his full arguments are in his written submissions that are 200 pages long.
Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya asked him whether he could make it available to the petitioners’ counsel. De Livera declined to comply with court’s request. He told the CJ that even the soft-copy form that he was giving the court, he would only give to the court tomorrow (06/10/2020).
The petitioners are due to file their written submissions in response, by tomorrow at 3pm. It was evident that this move was to prevent the petitioners from being able to get any access to the AG’s submissions in time to respond, and thereby get an unfair advantage.
Ultimately, the court made directions for one of its copies available by the court registry, for the petitioners’ counsel to be able to get copies.
Observers noted that this shows that the AG has little respect or regard for the right to a fair hearing. They further queried, whether the court would have been as tolerant and accommodating if a counsel for the petitioners had behaved in that way, noting that equality of opposing parties in any court proceedings is a basic minimum standard, without which confidence in the judicial system will suffer.
Lasantha Pethiyagoda / October 5, 2020
While it would seem rather early to properly judge this event and whether the AG was indeed obstructing the course of justice, what is always evident is that even high officials act in a manner of immaturity and partisanship that characterize Sri Lankan society. That is a sad reflection on which direction the country is heading.
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MyView / October 6, 2020
And this, folks, is before 20A which has even more power to abuse the already laid down systems for checks and balances for the sovereignty of the people by giving equal status to the judiciary, legislature and executive.
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MyView / October 6, 2020
And this is pre20A. With excessive powers of 20A, the sky is the limit.
that is the direction the country is heading.
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leelagemalli / October 8, 2020
Lasantha exactly the truth. Srilankens consider as experts are not experts to the world. This displayed very well the manner srilankens society is made to believe. They are all like ” Lindhe inna maediyo” . Frogs in wells. No matter the world would laugh at us they went on talking high about so called achievement in COVID. This mentality would nt change so long media media would nt respect ethics and morals. ??????????????????
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rj1952 / October 5, 2020
This swollen-headed uncouth unsavoury AG, an obvious supporter of the rajapuka’s, thinks that he was born with the sun shining all 24 hours of the day on his rotund backside.
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If one has and has been following his autocratic draconian actions where he orders one and all to dance the kawadi as per his sakkilli tunes.
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In such a case where the freedom’s along with the rights of all sort are at peril due to this rajapuk’s dreadful 20th amendment, he knew very well that he has a weak case to respond to is attempting to use every petty trick in the book to save the faces of the said corrupt to the core dictatorial rajapuka siblings who thanks to the foolish actions of nearly 7 million raje modaya’s on both occasions have given them the opportunities to set into effect their ambitions of setting up a one family ruling military dictatorship.
His facade should be nipped in the bud by the CJ who along with his 4 member bench must and should have the courage to give the many petitioners a fair go.
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Ajith / October 5, 2020
AG is working for a Dictator president. So, he thinks he does not bother about Chief Justice. I would like bring AG’s notice that 19th amendment is still in the country and Judiciary should be independent institution and more important than President. Justice must always superior to dictatorship.
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davealwis / October 6, 2020
since SL judiciary has been 100% independent?
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Simon / October 5, 2020
“Poor Man”, he has to “Qualify” for the job, once the “20A” gets into the Constitution. If he doesn’t show that “STYLE” of “Arrogance” and “Dictatorial” to fit into the “CLUB”, he will definitely be sent home. AG – Good attempt and hope for the “BEST” to continue in the “JOB”.
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hanchopancha / October 5, 2020
Judiciary is the life vest to save you from drowning when you fall overboard. If the life vest is full of holes the drowning is for sure. It is incumbent upon every citizen to ensure that the life vest has got no holes.
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umberto / October 6, 2020
well well So what is new. The same old story. It is the PEARL of ASIA. Inhabited by sinhaleyo buddhists. What else can one expect?? More to come. You have to stomach it.
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Mallaiyuran / October 6, 2020
He probably is shy other attorneys reading his Blah Blah.
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GATAM / October 6, 2020
Follies of Buddhist jokers must be suffered by minorities too for no fault of theirs!
What a shameful cursed island. Split the damn thing so at least sensible people can have a sensible nation within part of it. Buddhists are ruining it for everyone like Thailand and Burma.
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RBH59 / October 6, 2020
Refuses to give copy of written submissions to counsel for petitioners in 20a hearing it shows there is some overlooked. Affairs in the system. Not abiding the basics democracy that is By the people, for the people”. Of the people,
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Atu / October 6, 2020
AG submits arguments to prove 20A is just reversal of 19th amendment and all will be wound back to 1978 constitutional provisions. People who says it is not, will submit their arguments. It is like an exam. You don’t need top look at other peoples’ answer paper and write your answer accordingly. This shows the confidence of AG of his own knowledge. AG is write that I will not give you a copy of my submission. What he says is that if you guys know better, argue your own case and let SC to make decision. How come it is unfair? If CT complains here, that show its supporters do not know what they are doing.
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MyView / October 6, 2020
It is not like an exam. In a court of law both sides give arguments, counter arguments and finally written submissions. Please do not confuse.
How come it is unfair? If CT complains here, that show its supporters do not know what they are doing. Better say How come someone does not know court procedure to ensure JUSTICE will prevail. Otherwise the judges are not omnipotent to judge on just some oral argument.
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umberto / October 8, 2020
My View Atu is not confused. He is an ignorant sinlaleyo buddhist. He just wrote what he was told for his bottle of arrack and a packet of chicken buryani and possibly 800 rupees. Don’t be harsh o.n him
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rj1952 / October 6, 2020
Atu the Batu –
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Are you located in rajapuka’s backyard in the jungle latrine.?
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Do not display your gamarala ignorance.?
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chiv / October 6, 2020
Politicians may hold absolute control over country,people and system but not on those invisible VIRUS (and their own fate) . Ask Mr. Trump .
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chiv / October 6, 2020
Today MS told PCol ” of course I got the warning early as in Jan 2019 and I passed that to IGP and Def Sec so that my job is over. No country finds their head responsible for such disasters, so why me ????, if at all it should be Pujitha and Hema” Just note the apathy, arrogance, anti social traits, don’t care attitude, entitlement, not an iota of remorse or regret for those poor souls who perished”. According to him a President’s job is just to pass such vital information.
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MyView / October 7, 2020
He admits he is IRRESPONSIBLE because the opposite – I am not responsible.
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punchinilame / October 8, 2020
Chiv – You recall he visited India with his family envisaging that attack – but the attack was delayed for some reason or other. When he came back he deliberately wanted to avoid the
scene of the envisaged massacre and let for Singapore to be in hiding. This can be checked
further if he did make his Singapore travels arrangements upon his return or planned earlier?
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Champa / October 6, 2020
The Attorney General has submitted 22 amendments to the 20th Amendments which he says will be incorporated at the Committee Stage. How could someone who is not even an MP give such an assurance to the Supreme Court? Isn’t it grossly misleading?
The Attorney General’s submission itself stands as proof that the 20th Amendment is still a hypothetical document.
The Attorney General seems to be using trickery to get a Supreme Court ruling to an incomplete, unofficial, non-consensual constitutional amendment.
This case has placed the credibility of Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court at stake.
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Simon / October 6, 2020
Champa: “Attorney General has submitted 22 amendments to the 20th……….” Could you please tell me what those “22 amendments” are? AG is cited as a Respondent and also represents the President. If what you say is correct, those “22 amendments” would have been submitted with the concurrence of the President. Please comply with my request. Thank you.
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Champa / October 7, 2020
Simon
Oh, everyone is asking how I got AG’s submission proposing a number of amendments to the 20A. I have no intention to give publicity to AG’s list of “updates” to the 20A, as there is no guarantee that they will be incorporated at the Committee Stage.
A couple of proposed updates (amendments) were already in the public domain, but not all.
AG is yet to share this document officially. When this document is officially “out,” who knows, there may be more than 22 amendments.
A Sinhala newspaper had even removed my comment after publishing it for hours.
I only said, AG’s submission of 22 amendments to the 20A was a cunning tactic to mislead the SC and get a referendum (which could easily be rigged).
About the last line of your comment, yes, AG represents the President.
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umberto / October 8, 2020
My View
Atu is not confused.
He is just an ignorant sinhaleyo buddhist.
He just wrote what he was told for his bottle of arrack and a packet of chicken buryani and possibly 800 rupees. Don’t be harsh on him
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Simon / October 8, 2020
Champa: Thank you. As you said, that statement of AG re. “22 Amendments” was a ploy. When it was said the Petitioners immediately informed Courts that they have neither seen nor given a copy of it. The Judge ordered it be given to the Petitioners. To date, we do not know what those “22” are. This man AG is fighting a “battle” to keep his “JOB”.
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deepthi silva / October 8, 2020
All this is very funny, laughable, Attorney General, Supreme Court, Lawyer, wigs, black coats , big books used by a non English speaking race who had nothing to with developing those concepts.
Their main ambitions are pretend to be half European, get a visa to the west( dual citizen !) and send their children on scholarship to England.
In actual fact, all these chaps are morally corrupt( even if financially honest), incapable , inefficient, physically weak comapred to Europeans and even when they cram up at some Western university can become only pedantic know alls ! They can never be original or create anything new.
The truth is ,their country stinks
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Ajay / October 10, 2020
Dappula is no sportsman. He must have been cheating at marbles when he was a kid. The hair is still the same.
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