MPs highlight privilege issues in P’ment

• Vadivel Suresh appeals to Speaker to proceed with investigations into death threats 
• Speaker responds that he will inform IGP; Amaratunga supports protection of MP rights  
• UNP MPs say MR being referred to as PM is abuse of privileges 
• Malik appeals to Speaker to stop Sirisena-Rajapaksa Cabinet meetings, charge they are illegal

By Ashwin Hemmathagama, Our Lobby Correspondent

A series of different privileges issues were brought to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s attention yesterday in Parliament, with UNP lawmakers looking for intervention and remedial action to protect their rights and security.

Fearing for his life, UNP MP Vadivel Suresh complained to the Speaker that the policehad ill-treated him last weekend by not investigating and taking action over threats to his life that he said he had received while working at the grassroots level of his electorate in the hill country’s estate sector. “During a meeting I had in my electorate, a set of outsiders started to create an issue by bringing up racism. They had planned to attack me with petrol bombs. I lodged a complaint at the police station in Passara but no action has been taken against those responsible up to now. My life has been threatened, both in the Parliament by a group throwing chili powder and at home,” said MP Suresh. 

Suresh also asked the Speaker whether this was an attempt to increase racial divisions in Sri Lanka and challenged those responsible to face democratic forces rather than resort to illegal political moves. In response, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya assured that the issue would be taken up with the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

UNP MP John Amaratunga, who was on his feet, endorsed the Speaker’s authority over issuing an order to the IGP who is bound to follow up. 

“The Police has started providing security to those who are not Members of Parliament. In this scenario, the complaint MP Suresh raised is a serious matter. The Speaker is our protector and the whole of Parliament is under your order. We are confident that you, as our Speaker, will continue to execute the right decisions,” he held.

Meanwhile, UNP MP S.M. Marikkar highlighted thatState media was abusing the privileges of lawmakers by identifying MP Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister and some of his supporters as Ministers in a Government which does not exist as the Speaker has already stated in Parliament that there is no Prime Minister, Cabinet or Government.

“You have held that there is no Prime Minister and Government after the no confidence motion on 14 November. But MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, using a Ministry of Finance letterhead,has instructed the Director General of Sri Lanka Customs to release $ 43,455. He is not the Minister anymore and should not pose as a Minister to issue illegal directions. State television channels have started misusing public money by providing live telecastsof press conferences instead of the House and its sittings. I request the Speaker to summon the Directors of these State media establishments to the Privileges Committee of Parliament for an inquiry,” said MP Marikkar, who cited such action as a violating of the privileges of all lawmakers.

Endorsing the fact that there was no Government in the country, with the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA)being defeated twice in Parliament due to a no confidence motion approved by a parliamentary majority, UNP MP Rauff Hakeem said: “We passed a no confidence motion, which is in the Hansard that is already public. The media referring to members of the illegal government as the Prime Minster and Minsters clearly violates our rights. The Speaker should issue a guide to all media on this matter to stop identifying them with positions that do not exist.”

According to UNP MP Malik Samarawickrama, President Maithripala Sirisena together with MP Mahinda Rajapaksa and others continue to hold meetings similar to those of Cabinet and take decisions which are illegal. 

“You have clearly stated that Mahinda Rajapaksa is not recognised as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and there are no Cabinet Ministers. I learnt from the media that a group of MPs meet once a week to take decisions, procure items and enter into various agreements with companies to bring in different items to Sri Lanka and launch diverse projects in the country. This is completely illegal. We appreciate if you could take action to stop these activities,” said MP Samarawickrama.