Probes paralyse Parliament

Tuesday, 21 April 2015 01:37 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Opposition demands Speaker intervention By Ashwin Hemmathagama Our Lobby Correspondent Opposition lawmakers yesterday urged Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to stop Parliamentarians and their families from being taken to the Bribery Commission in what they said was an ongoing witch-hunt. With the House engaged in a heated debate, some Opposition legislators stood along the main aisle and objected to the removal of the mace. UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardena accused the Government of ordering the Bribery Commission to summon former UNP strongman and current UPFA MP Tissa Attanayake and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. “We have highlighted the rights of the members and their families. They are being taken in for questioning without any specific reason. Tissa Attanayake has been called again and it is simply because he accepted a ministerial post. (Former) President Mahinda Rajapaksa was also called in for awarding such a portfolio.

During (former) President Rajapaksa’s rule we liberated the country and 19 of the UNP members supported us. Some of them are now sitting in the front rows including Minister Karu Jayasuriya,” he said. “(Former) President Rajapaksa followed the Constitution when appointing all Ministers. We demand here in Parliament that the dignity and rights of MPS and their family members are upheld. This is a threat to the functioning of Parliament. I request you to get involved and stop this ongoing witch-hunt,” MP Gunawardena told the Speaker. In response, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said that the Bribery Commission functioned independently and he had no control over its operations. “The head of this Government, the President, is a SLFP member. Some of the UPFA members are here and some are there supporting him. The Director General of the Bribery Commission is known to me but neither my wife nor I have any dealings with her after she was appointed to the commission. On the other hand, the other two members, including the Chairman of the Bribery Commission, are still those who were appointed by the previous Government. They make the final decision. If the former President is unable to give the statement, his lawyers could go to courts for an injunction. The people gave a mandate to take action against the corrupt. But now I am being accused of protecting Mahinda Rajapaksa both in the press and also on social media. If you think Mahinda is not being treated properly, why don’t you take it up with the SLFP? Even yesterday you met the President. Don’t shout here accusing me. We can’t help you with the internal issues of the SLFP,” the Premier stated. Joining the debate, Leader of the House, Plantation Industries Minister Lakshman Kiriella, said: “We don’t know why these people are summoned to the Bribery Commission. The proposed amendment is aimed at making the Bribery Commission, Judiciary, state sector and Elections Department independent bodies. Why are you against it?” he asked. MP Wimal Weerawansa alleged that the Prime Minister’s wife had played a role in directing the Director General of the Bribery Commission. “The unofficial Opposition Leader Dinesh Gunawardena raised an important matter. They know why the former President is being summoned to the Bribery Commission. It is for awarding a ministerial post. The Bribery Commission DG is a close friend of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’s wife’s friend. Her husband has acquired 45 acres in a reservation in Matale. How can she hold such a position? This is a witch-hunt. The 19th Amendment is nothing more than chewing gum.” Speaker Rajapaksa is expected to deliver his decision today having spoken to the Prime Minister and party leaders about protecting the rights of Parliamentarians.

Speaker summons Bribery Commission Chief to Parliament

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday summoned the Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe to Parliament. Rajapaksa has summoned the Director General following protests displayed by about 60 members of the Opposition in Parliament. The Opposition members have protested over former President Mahinda Rajapaksa being summoned to the Bribery Commission, claiming that it was an illegal move instituted as part of the witch-hunt against the former President.