Wednesday Nov 13, 2024
Wednesday Nov 13, 2024
Wednesday, 31 October 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Speaker KaruJayasuriya yesterday asked President Maithripala Sirisena again to reconvene the prorogued Parliament following a request by over 125 MPs. The Parliamentarians urged the Speaker to take immediate steps to safeguard their rights and privileges and to establish a majority in Parliament.
“Once again, in the name of democracy, I kindly urge you to summon Parliament forthwith for the wellbeing of the public and to ensure justice without allowing the country to be dragged into a crisis,” Speaker Jayasuriya urged in a letter to the President.
Despite heavy pressure from political parties, civil society organisations and the international community including the US, UK and European Union, President Sirisena remains adamant in keeping the parliamentary session postponed until 16 November.
The Speaker is likely to meet with President Sirisena tomorrow to urge him to consider the request of a majority of the members of the House, Daily FT learns.
The UPFA was represented by Mahinda Samarasinghe, Sarath Amunugama, Nimal Siripala De Silva and Dinesh Gunewardane, three of whom are recently appointed ministers in the new Cabinet installed by President Sirisena. The UPFA representatives walked in to say that the Cabinet appointed on Monday had met. JVP MPs interrupted to say the meeting had not been convened to hear about the activities of an illegal government.
Several of the MPs told the Speaker that he had the power to convene Parliament despite the prorogation.
See Page 2 for Speaker’s letter.
