Speaker rejects intervening in police investigation

• UPFA MPs contend parliamentary privileges protect them from police probe on P’ment brawl   
• Say matter should be resolved within P’ment, MPs should not be summoned by police 
• But Speaker says police have to respond to complaints made by public 

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday rejected the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) lawmakers’ request to stop police investigations into the brawl that took place on the Chamber floor in mid-November 2018 during the sittings of Parliament and the conduct of lawmakers.

According to the Speaker, the police investigations were independent from the Parliamentary Special Committee, which tabled its findings in Parliament.  “Sixteen civil society organisations have lodged police complaints. In addition, two of the UPFA members have lodged police complaints against me. 

I have already given my statement to the police. So, a separate investigation was conducted by the police. I am unable to get involved in the investigations on MPs attacking the police. I can’t be responsible if somebody gets killed here in the Parliament. So, the police will continue their investigations.” 

The Speaker refused to get involved with police matters to save UPFA lawmakers now found guilty of physically assaulting a police officer with chilli powder mixed in water and broken chairs. 

However, UPFA MP Dinesh Gunewardene held that matters of Parliament should remain within the House and the police should not be allowed. Highlighting the provisions of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act No. 27 of 1997, Gunewardene said: “We are interested in the privileges of the MPs. Even the Prime Minister held recently that we should not allow our privileges to be handed over to police. Our members are being called by police and have been asked to come in relation to this report. We are under the Privileges Act and the rights of the MPs should be protected. When the report is released in this manner, the public will get to know before the MPs. If the police can summon the MPs for an incident that took place inside the Chamber, then there is no meaning in our privileges.”

Approving the request to keep matters inside, Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa held the Speaker has the authority to punish the lawmakers rather than getting the police involved. 

UNP lawmakers, however, wanted the Speaker to take action against the MPs responsible and also let the police investigations continue without obstruction. 

State Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment Ajith Mannapperuma held that unless action is taken, the public will continue to think the Parliament is a place the country no longer needs, and it should be set on fire, as widely criticised on social media. 

“People think Parliament is a place that has no discipline. Taking refuge behind privileges, Parliamentarians should not be allowed to do anything that comes to their mind in Parliament. Parliament should be responsible to the public. We want the Speaker to continue disciplining lawmakers. Please take action against those who are responsible,” said the State Minister.

UNP MP Sidney Jayarathne held that unless action is taken, it would set a bad example where lawmakers will bring in harmful substances to Parliament on a latter date. “Imagine if that chilli powder mixed in water was acid, some of those police officers would have already lost their sight. This includes Minister Jayawickrama Perera and MP Vijitha Hearth. They will bring acid next time if we allow them to get away having brought chilli powder to the Chamber. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was also present in the Chamber during this chaos. Rajapaksa had some responsibility to control his followers,” said Jayarathne.

According to UNP MP Ashu Marasinghe, the Parliament privileges should not be allowed to overrule the civil and criminal laws of the country. “They broke the laws of the country and attacked the police who came to protect the Parliament. We should not bring the privileges to cover breaking laws. The lawmakers should set an example to the country by behaving correctly. With all this, the people want to set fire to the Parliament. This is the pathetic level the Parliament is seen on social media,” said Marasinghe.

Expressing the Government opinion on the matter, Minister of Public Enterprise, Kandyan Heritage and Kandy Development and Leader of the House of Parliament Lakshman Kiriella held that Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act No. 27 of 1997 is not supreme to laws of the land. (AH)