Party leaders request Speaker to ensure Ramanayake attends Parliament

Tuesday, 19 January 2021 02:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Ranjan Ramanayake

Party leaders yesterday urged Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to instruct Prison authorities to bring jailed MP SJB Ranjan Ramanayake to Parliament when the House convenes this morning.

Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella said that there was no constitutional bar to Ramanayake attending Parliament sittings as he remained a MP and requested the Speaker to ensure he was allowed to do so.

SJB MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara and TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran too spoke in support of Ramanayake’s right to attend sittings.

They said SLPP MP Premalal Jayasekera, who has been convicted of murder, had been allowed to attend sittings and hence Ramanayake too should be allowed to attend sittings as he remained a MP.

Ramanayake was sentenced to four years’ rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court last week on a contempt of court charge.

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