Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has reportedly informed the United National Party that he does not intend to go to court against the removal of privileges of former presidents.
The reports state that Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that he has no need to go to court to protect privileges and that he will not support former presidents if they go to court.
He is also said to have stated that if a case is filed regarding the loss of privileges, the former presidents have received legal advice to do so according to the court process without presenting contradictory facts.
Ranil Wickremesinghe has also stated that none of the former presidents have discussed as a group against the reduction of privileges so far, according to reports.
He also said that he has not organized groups and discussed the Privileges Act except on two occasions with two former presidents.
He has said that former President Maithripala Sirisena once spoke to him on this matter, and on another occasion, he met former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a wedding ceremony and expressed his views on the privileges of presidents.
However, only former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has filed a petition with the Supreme Court through an official of his party to protect his privileges.
Legal experts point out that challenging the government’s draft bill to remove the privileges of former presidents before the Supreme Court is a failed attempt.