Supreme Court says former PM could not sign pacts 'according to his will'

Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva told open court that a Prime Minister cannot sign important agreements "according to his will".

President Mahinda Rajapaksa's political allies, Peoples Liberation Front (JVP) and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) have requested the judiciary to abolish the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) signed in 2002.

Only in paper

The then PM, Ranil Wickramasinghe, signed the Norwegian-brokered CFA on behalf the Sri Lanka government on 22 February.

LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, signed the truce that led to the de-escalation of violence in the north east.

	CJ Sarath Silva quetioned whether CFA is still functional

The then President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, accused Wickramasinghe of not informing her before signing the CFA.

Current President Mahinda Rajapaksa told BBC that the truce was "a mistake".

The Supreme Court observed that currently the ceasefire only exists in the paper.

CJ Sarath Silva questioned the petitioners whether CFA is practically observed by both parties.

SLFP disciplinary action

According to Sri Lanka's constitution, president holds executive powers while the PM is only a ceremonial post.

The hearing was postponed to 30 November.

	Sacked minister says SLFP disciplinary action is unconstitutional

Meanwhile, Colombo District Court has postponed a petition by former minister Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi to 01 August.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) will be asked to answer petitioner's allegations, court said.

Parliamentarian Sooriyaarachchi has argued that a disciplinary action launched against him by the SLFP was unconstitutional.

Both Sooriyaarachchi and Former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera were sacked by President Rajapaksa earlier this year.