Prison authorities instructed to bring Premalal Jayasekara to Parliament

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told Parliament this morning (28) that he has instructed the Commissioner General of Prisons to take immediate steps to bring Ratnapura district Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Premalal Jayasekara to Parliament. 

The Speaker made the announcement after SLPP MPs questioned as to why Mr Jayasekara, who is currenly in prison, has not been brought to Parliament yet. 

The SLPP MPs noted that Mr Jayasekara's presence might be required if a vote is called for the Government's Vote on Account (VoA) in Parliament later this evening and urged the Speaker to ensure that the MP is brought to Parliament today. 

Mr Jayasekara was sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court in July after being convicted of murder. He was on the SLPP ticket as a candidate for the August 5 parliamentary election at the time. He polled the second highest number of votes in the district and was elected to Parliament at the August 5 polls. 

The Speaker stated that he had not received any notice of Mr Jayasekara lodging an appeal against his guilty verdict, but that he was of the view that the rights of the MP, and the voters who elected him, must be safeguarded. 

Mr Jayasekara is yet to take oaths as an MP as he had so far not been brought to Parliament.