IPU Human Rights Committee to probe JO’s concerns

• No clause barring those with dual citizenship from contesting LG polls

By Skandha Gunasekara

The Human Rights Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will hold an inquiry into the issues faced by the Joint Opposition.

Joint Opposition Parliamentary group leader MP Dinesh Gunawardena told the Daily FT that the IPU held a hearing with Joint Opposition representatives and assured the latter that it would reach out to Parliament for further information. 

“A lengthy hearing was carried out when the JO representatives MPs Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Gamini Lokuge and Dullas Alahapperuma met with the IPU in Geneva, Switzerland last week. Our MPs were asked to give explanations on key points such JO MPs being arrested for taking part in pickets.”

Gunawardena said that several issues were taken up, including the impounding of MPs’ passports, the unwarranted arrests of MPs and the lack of recognition in Parliament.

“The Joint Opposition is the second largest group elected to Parliament after the UNP but the Speaker has failed to give us that recognition. We are not properly represented in parliamentary committees. This is a serious injustice,”

Gunawardena went on to note that the IPU Secretary-General Chungong had instructed IPU Human Rights Head Huizenga to obtain details of arrests of JO MPs while assuring the JO delegation that he would have discussions with Speaker Karu Jayasuriya regarding the grievances of the MPs.

Remarking on the removal of Geetha Kumarasinghe from Parliament, MP Gunawardena said that the law should apply to all and not just parliamentarians.

“The former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran was a foreign national and he openly admitted to it. If Geetha Kumarasinghe, who has served as an MP in this Parliament for the past two years, can now be removed, similar legal action should be taken against the former Central Bank Governor,”

The MP said that the Joint Opposition plans to take action in Parliament over Kumarasinghe’s removal.

Additionally, Gunawardena pointed out that the Local Authority Elections Act did not contain a clause prohibiting those holding dual citizenships from contesting. 

“Even the Chairman of the Elections Commission lamented about this,”

He asserted that definite action will be taken by the Joint Opposition regarding the removal of Kumarasinghe and the possibility of other MPs holding dual citizenship once the Budget debates have concluded.