SJB expels 8 MPs from PG

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Parliamentarians Dr. Harsha de Silva and S.M. Marikkar address the press yesterday

• All MPs were those who voted for 20A 
• Harsha says moves by Govt. to head Parliamentary Finance Committee shows keenness to solidify power 

By Asiri Fernando

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday expelled eight members who voted for the 20th Amendment (20A) to the Constitution from the party’s PG following an outcry by their members to take disciplinary action against them. 

“The SJB parliamentary group (PG) held several meetings on the 20A prior to the vote, and it was decided that the SJB MPs will vote against the 20A. The eight MPs have violated the PG’s decision and voted for the 20A. The PG met yesterday, chaired by SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa, and unanimously decided to expel the eight MPs from the PG as an initial step,” Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella told the Daily FT. 

Issuing a press release, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that the decision was the first step in disciplinary action taken against the eight MPs who voted for the 20A, adding that the SJB will inform the Speaker of the House that the eight should be seated separately from the party’s PG. 

“The decision to vote against the 20A was taken at the PG meeting prior to the second reading of the Amendment, and the Chief Opposition Whip had issued a directive to that effected. We are discussing with the coalition party leaders about disciplinary action against their members,” Madduma Bandara told Daily FT, adding that the SJB was also seeking legal consultations regarding further disciplinary action. 

The eight SJB MPs who voted for the controversial 20A are Nazir Ahamed, Ishaq Rahman, Faisal Cassim, A. Ariwind Kumar, Diana Gamage, Mohammed Haris, M.S. Thaufiq, and Alizahir Raheem.

The decision comes in the wake of nine SJB members of Parliament writing to the SJB General Secretary, calling for strict disciplinary action to be taken against the eight MPs. Further, Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader Mano Ganesan suspended MP A. Aravind Kumar, who voted for the 20A, from the alliance. Ganesan took to Twitter to announce the suspension, stating that the Upcountry People’s Front, which MP A. Aravind Kumar is a member of, will be asked to take further action against him. 

Speaking at a press conference yesterday morning, Madduma Bandara charged that the demise of Democracy in Sri Lanka had begun with the 20A being passed in the parliament. He was joined by SJB members Dr. Harsha De Silva and S.M Marikkar.

“For 40 years, every political party has called for abolishing the Executive Presidency. The 19th Amendment was brought in by us to bring balance of power back to the Parliament. The 19th Amendment brought transparency and accountability through independent commissions on the Judiciary, Police, human rights and auditing. But from today, all the judges will be appointed by the President, the Election Commission and other commissions will be appointed by the President,” Bandara argued, calling on the public to stand up for democracy. 

Addressing the press, Dr. de Silva charged that the Government has already begun to further erode checks and balances in Parliament by trying to gain control of the parliamentary working committee on public finances, going against the established norm that the committee is chaired by an opposition MP. 

“According to parliamentary standing orders, the Parliamentary Working Committee on Finance is selected with an Opposition MP as Chair. That is part of the checks and balances put in place to monitor how public funds are utilised. I was nominated from the Opposition to chair the working committee. This morning (23 October) the Government tried to gain control of it and did so after a vote. This is the first step to consolidate power under the President, this is shameful act,” Dr. Silva argued. 

The move by the Government justifies the Opposition’s stance that the 20A will lead to dictatorship, Dr. Silva opined.

“In less than 12 hours after voting in the 20A, the Government, through this move, has shown the country and the world their desire to push towards dictatorship,” Dr. Silva charged.