No show by murder convict MP Jayasekara, Pillaiyan takes oaths as MP

SLPP Ratnapura District MP-elect Premalal Jayasekara, who was convicted of murder last month, could not attend the inaugural session of the House yesterday.

Parliament officials granted him permission to attend sittings and takes oath as a MP, after he submitted documents relating to an appeal he filed against his conviction.

However, Prison officials did not bring him to Parliament. The Daily FT learns that the Attorney General did not give the go ahead for him to attend Parliament. 

Serjeant at Arms Narendra Fernando informed the Prison Chief that Parliament will be meeting today, and on 27 and 28 August, and that MP Premalal Jayasekara should be brought to Parliament as earlier informed.

Meanwhile Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillaiyan, who was elected to Parliament from the Batticaloa District and is in remand custody over a murder charge, was brought to Parliament from Prison yesterday.

He was granted permission to attend by the Batticaloa High Court.