Clash
between ex-Speakers brewing
Former Speaker Joseph Micheal Perera says he is using "only
three vehicles" in his capacity as Chairman of the Constitutional
Council in the face of an accusation by ex-speaker Anura Bandaranaike
that he no longer held office and was misusing Parliamentary privileges.
The
former Speaker is entitled to hold office as the Chairman of the
Constitutional Council despite the dissolution of Parliament until
a Member of Parliament is elected to be Speaker and replaces him,
Mr. Perera said.
The
Speaker is granted this unique position under clause 6 (a) of the
17th Amendment to the Constitution notwithstanding the provisions
of Article 64 (2) of the Constitution.
However
in his statement Mr. Bandaranaike has only referred to Article 64
(2) of the Constitution which states "A member holding office
of the Speaker, shall unless he earlier resigns his office by a
writing under his hand addressed to the President, or ceases to
be a member, vacates his office on the dissolution of Parliament."
He has overlooked the Speaker's entitlements that are guaranteed
to him under the 17th Amendment.
In
a statement issued on Friday Mr. Bandaranaike said "Former
Speaker Joseph Michael Perera, without an iota of shame admitted
that 'he was merely availing himself of an entitlement 'to use the
many official cars and perks, even when he has ceased to be Speaker
after the dissolution. " Mr. Perera has also been at the receiving
end of some brickbats of the state-controlled media. |