Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana today (9) announced to the House that the service of Parliament of an MP can be suspended for a period exceeding one month under section 28 of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act subject to a maximum of three months under Article 66 (e) of the Constitution where a member has been convicted of two or more separate offences in the charge-sheet for a single incident.
The Speaker had earlier sought the opinion of the Attorney General regarding the maximum punishment that can be imposed on an MP in an instance where an MP issued a charge-sheet by Parliament's Committee on Ethics and Privileges is found guilty of two or more separate offences listed in that charge-sheet.
Accordingly, the AG had opined that an MP can be suspended for a maximum of three months in such an event.
The Government today tabled in the House the Report of the Commission to Inquiry into the Establishment and Maintenance of Unlawful Places of Detention and Torture Chambers in the Batalanda Housing Scheme.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe said today he wholly rejects the Batalanda Commission report and that it was appointed wholly with the intention slinging political mud at him.
Leader of the National People’s Party (NPP) and one time Propaganda Secretary of the JVP Wimal Weerawansa accused the Government of bringing back the “Batalanda Commission” for a media spectacle instead of a genuine concern for those who suffered during the 1988-1990 period.
Speaker (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne to announced to the Parliament regarding the vacant seat created in Parliament due to the resignation of Mohamed Sali Naleem from his position as a Member of Parliament.
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