Speaker cannot appoint Select Committee: SLPP

 Dr. Ramesh Pathirana addressing the media

• Argues membership matters between the SLFP and SLPP are “internal” and do not warrant intervention 

By Nuwan Senarathna 

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday said Speaker Karu Jayasuriya could not appoint a Select Committee to inquire into whether MPs, including MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, who had obtained SLPP membership, could remain in Parliament or be the Opposition Leader.

“The United People’s Freedom Alliance’s (UPFA) General Secretary MP Mahinda Amaraweera has already sent a letter to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya stating that MP Mahinda Rajapaksa is still a member of the UPFA. Therefore I don’t see any need to appoint a Select Committee,” MP Dr. Ramesh Pathirana told reporters at the SLPP headquarters.

Dr. Pathirana claimed Speaker Jayasuriya could only appoint a Select Committee if the UPFA General Secretary requested him to do so and even if Jayasuriya appointed a Select Committee the committee decision could not disqualify Rajapaksa from serving as an MP.

He said it was possible for MPs to join the SLPP and remain with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and UPFA as this was an internal matter which would be sorted out in the future when contesting elections. He argued that membership within the UPFA would not be an issue when representing Parliament or any other governing bodies such as local governments or provincial councils.

Dr. Pathirana pointed out that MPs who had represented the Joint Opposition (JO) prior to 26 October had not obtained SLPP membership but they supported the party. He noted that MPs who represented the JO had applied to obtain membership of the SLPP but SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam had never issued them membership.  

Speaker Jayasuriya is expected to announce his decision to appoint a Select Committee today. Several UNP and TNA parliamentarians had requested Jayasuriya to appoint a Select Committee to clarify whether Rajapaksa had obtained SLPP membership.  

Leader of the House MP Lakshman Kiriella also questioned how MPs who had obtained SLPP membership were entitled to remain as MPs in Parliament under Article 99(13) of the Constitution. 

Article 99 (13) of the Constitution states: “Where a Member of Parliament ceases, by resignation, expulsion or otherwise, to be a member of a recognised political party or independent group on whose nomination paper his name appeared at the time of his becoming such Member of Parliament, his seat shall become vacant upon the expiration of a period of one month from the date of his ceasing to be such member.” 

Pic by Lasantha Kumara