PM Wickremesinghe says he has been summoned before PSC

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today (Jul 9) told Parliament that he has been called before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) probing the Easter Sunday attacks.

He made this remarks in response to a privileges issue raised by Dayasiri Jayasekara over being summoned before the PSC.

During a parliamentary debate today, MP Jayasekara requested the Speaker to clarify whether the decision to summon him before the PSC was a breach of parliamentary privileges since there were ongoing court cases over the terrorist attacks.

His remarks came after Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri who heads the PSC said they had re-issued summons on the MP to appear before the Committee tomorrow since he had failed to do so during the first occasion.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, in response, said that it was appropriate for him to appear before the Committee. However, he added that further clarification over this matter could be sought from the members of the PSC.

The Prime Minister told Parliament that he would refrain from commenting in this regard as a person who has been summoned before the PSC adding that abiding by the Speaker's decision was advisable in this instance.