Govt. to regulate parliamentary behaviour

A decision has been reached by the Government to set up an autonomous entity to regulate the code of conduct of Members of Parliament (MPs) aiming at securing public trust in the efficacy, transparency and equity of democratic systems in the event of chaotic occurrences that were witnessed during the past week in Parliament.

Hence, on Monday (23) a joint-proposal in this context has been submitted by the Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.

With this in view, the Cabinet of Ministers green-lit the formulation of an independent body to monitor the code of conduct of MPs following the perspectives of the Speaker of the Parliament and Party Leaders representing the Parliament over the basic Draft Bill.

Accordingly, Cabinet approval has equally been granted to direct the Legal Draftsman to table a Draft Bill keeping the insights of the Speaker of the Parliament and the relevant Party Leaders in view.

Preceding over Monday’s Cabinet meeting, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed sharp disapproval of reported boisterous behaviour of certain MPs.  

This adds to the recent heated dispute and alleged assaults concerning State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage and SJB MPs Sujith Sanjaya Perera and Rohana Bandara.

The five-member committee appointed by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to probe the matter, led by Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse comprising of MPs Chamal Rajapaksa, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Gayantha Karunathilleka and Imthiaz Bakeer Markar is slated to convene tomorrow (October 25) at 11.00 a.m.