Court order on poll funds ‘violates parliamentary privileges’

COLOMBO: Government MP Premnath C. Dolawatte has said the Supreme Court’s interim order withholding funds for elections is a violation of parliamentary privileges.

Speaking in parliament, Dolawatte pointed out it is the parliament that exercises control over any matters relating to public finance, including the annual budgetary allocations.

He added that the Appropriation Act adopted by Parliament allows the Minister to limit expenditure previously authorised if the revenue received by the government is less than expected.

However, the Supreme Court on Friday issued an interim order preventing the Finance Secretary and the Attorney General from withholding the funds allocated for election purposes under the 2023 budget.

“The interim order issued by several judges of the Supreme Court attempts to prevent the implementation of these laws and make the control of public finance by Parliament a nullity,” Dolawatte said.

He pointed out that the budget estimates are not a law or legal document, and that it is a summary of the Appropriation Bill for 2023 to assist Parliament during the budget debate.

“This interim order seeks to give legal validity to the Activity Budget Estimates overriding The Appropriation Act which is passed by Parliament,” Dolawatte noted.