Speaker says jailed MP Ramanayake cannot attend sittings till CA hearings conclude

• Says CA has informed him to maintain status quo till final ruling
• Opp. Leader says status quo is that Ramanayake remains a MP

SJB MP Ranjan Ramanayake will not be allowed to attend Parliament until the Court of Appeal (CA) concludes its hearing into the Writ application filed by the jailed MP seeking to prevent the Secretary-General of Parliament from informing the Elections Commission that his seat has fallen vacant.

“The CA has informed us to maintain the status quo. Once the Court gives its decision, then Parliament will take the decision,” Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said.

Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa said that the status quo is that Ramanayake remains a Member of Parliament and that he should be summoned to Parliament immediately. He requested the Speaker to allow Ramanayake to attend sessions in the same way he allowed MP Premalal Gunasekara, who was convicted of murder, to attend sessions.

The Speaker said that Jayasekera was allowed to attend sessions following the appeal he filed in the Supreme Court.

Ramanayake was sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court in early January on a contempt of court charge.