Fourteen SLPP MPs want Select Committee to probe Election Commission

A motion calling for the establishment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the Election Commission (EC) over the “incidents of infringement of privileges of the Members of Parliament and of the Parliament and to make suitable recommendations in that regard” has been added to Parliament’s order book by way of an addendum.

The motion has been signed by 14 Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs. The MPs are Lalith Varna Kumara, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, D. Weerasingha, Jagath Samarawickrama, Sudarshana Denipitiya, Milan Jayathilake, Kokila Gunawardene, Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda, M. W. D. Sahan Pradeep Withana, Thisakutti Arachchi, Kapila Athukorala, Sudath Manjula, Gamini Lokuge and Sampath Athukorala.

The motion signed by the MPs note that the EC is responsible to Parliament under Article 104B (3) of the Constitution.

While the Election Commission fixed March 9 2023 as the date of polling for the local government election, the MPs point out that the Finance Ministry Secretary has filed an Affidavit in Court stating that it would be challenging to find funds for holding the local government election. There is a question of whether the Commission itself is satisfied that all preconditions for holding such an election are fulfilled, the motion further notes.

It adds that the EC has failed to report to Parliament which is responsible for public finance on issues that have arisen on the local government election.

The 14 MPs point out that if the privileges of the Members of Parliament and of the Parliament have been infringed, it should be investigated into and suitable recommendations in that regard should be made. As such, they have called for the appointment of a PSC to investigate the EC’s conduct and report to Parliament.

The motion calls for the PSC to present its report to Parliament within a period of one month from the first meeting of the Committee or within such further period as Parliament may grant.

By Sandun Jayawardana