SJB slams Speaker for allowing Jayasekera to take oaths in P’ment

• Says Speaker has tainted honour of Parliament 
• Fonseka recalls G.L. Peiris’s protest of his return to the House in 2010, says different opinion being given now 

By Asiri Fernando

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday severely criticised Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena for allowing Parliamentarian Premalal Jayasekara, who was convicted of murder ahead of last month’s Parliamentary Election, to take oaths despite strong objections by Opposition members. 

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Ratnapura District MP Premalal Jayasekara, alias ‘Choka Malli’, and two others were found guilty of shooting one person to death and critically injuring two others during the 2015 Presidential Election campaign. They were sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court in the lead-up to the August General Election. Opposition members objected to the move, and wore black scarves or “sataka” to show their displeasure. The Opposition members also staged a walk-out in protest after Jayasekara took oaths.     

“Today was a most unfortunate day for parliamentary democracy in Sri Lanka. The Speaker, in spite of strong objections by us, allowed a convicted murderer to take oaths as a Member of Parliament,” Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella said at a press conference held last evening. He was joined by SJB Parliamentarian Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka.  

Kiriella argued the Speaker had violated the Constitution by allowing a convict to take oaths in Parliament, stating that this has not happened in any democracy before, and would bring international condemnation and discredit to the country. 

“The Speaker has set a very bad precedent, and tainted the honour of this assembly,” Kiriella added.  

Addressing the press, SJB Parliamentarian Sarath Fonseka stressed that yesterday’s move by the Speaker was in breach of the law and parliamentary norms. “At this rate, any criminal can become a law maker. If “Makadure Madush” can use drug money to set up a political party, campaign, and become a Member of Parliament, then he can sit in the House,” Fonseka charged. 

“In 2010, I was charged, convicted and sentenced by a kangaroo military court, the then-President signed my charge sheet, my verdict, and my sentence. When the Opposition called for me to be brought to Parliament, former External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris challenged my right to come to Parliament, but today, he is defending the alleged right of a fellow party member who has been convicted of murder and sentenced to death to become a Member of Parliament,” Fonseka stated.  

Fonseka said that Prof. Peiris had earlier pointed out that in line with Article 89 of the Constitution, a person convicted will automatically lose any seat of representation and cannot attend Parliament, but he was now justifying allowing Jayasekera into parliament.  

“Didn’t President Gotabaya Rajapaksa say one law for all in his manifesto? So, what’s going on now? How would the public feel about a convict making laws that govern them?” Fonseka questioned. Both SJB Parliamentarians urged the public to read the Hansard records of Prof. G.L. Peiris on 8 October 2010.  The SJB will continue to resist Premalal Jayasekara’s Parliamentary activities, and said that they will observe closely and protest if the Speaker allows the convicted murderer to take part in the assemblies’ duties and vote on legislation. The SJB also plans to launch a grassroots champagne to educate the public on the dangers posed by the proposed 20th Amendment.