Speaker says PCoI into Easter attack cannot summon former COPE Chairman or its members

• JVP MP informs Speaker former COPE Chairman Handunnetti asked to appear before Presidential Commission over Batticaloa campus investigation
• Says this is in volition of Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act
• Speaker says commissions cannot serve such summons

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena yesterday said a Presidential Commission of inquiry into the Easter attack cannot summon a former chairman or members of parliamentary watchdog committee – COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) and question them on matters pertaining to one of its investigations.

He made the ruling in response to a privilege matter raised by JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake who said that the Presidential Commission investigating Batticaloa Campus Ltd. has summoned former COPE Chairman Sunil Handunnetti before the Commission.

Dissanayake said under Section 17 of the Parliament Powers and Privileges Act, no Member or Officer of Parliament and no shorthand writer employed to take minutes of evidence before the House or any committee shall give evidence elsewhere in respect of the contents of such evidence or of the contents of any manuscript or document laid before Parliament or any committee.

However contrary to this law, Handunnetti has been summoned by a letter dated 21 August,  to appear before the Presidential Investigation Commission to give evidence on his functions as President of the COPE which investigated the Batticaloa Campus Ltd. and the matters pertaining to that.

“I want to know whether the Presidential Investigation Commission has obtained your permission to summon Handunnetti. The commission cannot question anyone involved in the COPE investigation without prior approval of the Speaker of Parliament,” he said. Dissanayake queried from the Speaker even if the   specific issue of Handunnetti is put aside, whether a Presidential Commission could summon COPE Chairman or its members before the Commission questioned what transpired during the COPE investigations. In response, Speaker Abeywardena said that cannot be done. “No such summoning could be made,” 

he said.