Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena postponed the Motion for Leave of Absence for MP Ranjan Ramanayake until the Appeal Court verdict is given on the motion filed by MP Ramanayake.
He said that the Motion for leave of absence for Ramanayake cannot be accepted at this point, until the Appeal Court decision is given.
The Opposition accused the Speaker of being biased as he had postponed the motion for leave of absence for Ramanayake presented by MP Lakshman Kiriella.
Accordingly, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena yesterday maintained his stand with regard to imprisoned Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Ranjan Ramanayake.
Responding to the Opposition leader’s query as to why Ramanayake was not allowed to attend Parliament sittings, he told the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa that Ramanayake cannot be brought to Parliament as he has been convicted by the country’s highest court, the Supreme Court without provision for bail. Therefore, he asked the Opposition Leader to be patient until the verdict is delivered, adding that there was time to resolve the issue as the time frame to decide on MP Ramanayake’s Parliament seat concludes in April.
Therefore, the Speaker said that there was a legal issue in allowing an imprisoned MP without clearance for bail to attend Parliament proceedings.
Raising the issue regarding SJB-MP Ranjan Ramanayake in parliament yesterday, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa questioned the Speaker as to why MP Ramanayake was not permitted to attend Parliament sittings.
He accused the Speaker of not allowing the Opposition to submit a motion on behalf of MP Ranjan Ramanayake. He said the Speaker was obstructing the party from submitting the Motion under a Standing Order, accusing him of acting in an impartial manner.
MP Sajith Premadasa said the Speaker’s actions were against Parliamentary traditions and accused him of acting in favour of the Government, pointing out that the Speaker is required to maintain impartiality.
He said, based on the court order, it was the legal responsibility of the Speaker to allow MP Ramanayake to attend Parliament proceedings.
Meanwhile, Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena intervening in the issue, raising the question on whether Premadasa was raising questions on other matters, at a time when the debate on the report on the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks is about to commence, with the intention of diverting attention from the Easter issue. He said that the Opposition Leader’s questions could not be raised during yesterday’s session as it was not included in the Parliament agenda.
“This may be an attempt by the Opposition to sabotage the debate on the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry, scheduled to be debated in Parliament,” Minister Gunawardena charged.
Meanwhile, responding to MP Premadasa’s comments, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said the matter raised by the MP is currently before Court.
He said it is believed that the Court will issue its verdict on MP Ranjan Ramanayake’s Parliament seat by the end of this month.
Referring to Premadasa’s comparison of Ramanayake’s case against MP Premalal Jayasekara’s case, the Speaker pointed out that MP Premalal Jayasekara who was convicted of murder was allowed to attend Parliament as he had appealed his verdict and as per the laws of this country, when a case is appealed, the convicted prisoner is regarded as a remand prisoner and is accorded the same privileges. Hence, the Speaker noted that Jayasekara was awarded the privilege of attending parliament based on that legal provision. Therefore, he said that Ramanayake’s case cannot be compared with that of Jayasekara.
Therefore, the Speaker said that due to this legal issue with regard to MP Ranjan Ramanayake’s Parliament seat, the Parliament will inevitably have to wait until the Court’s decision is given in order to announce his stance.
