Status of MPs joining SLPP - Speaker to rule on Select Committee

18 December 2018 10:17 pm - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is expected to give a ruling on Friday on the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire whether the MPs including Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, who obtained Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP) membership, can remain in Parliament.

Speaker told the House that he would give a ruling on this matter when Government MP Rauff Hakeem and TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran requested that this matter be clarified.

This matter came up when House Leader Lakshman Kiriella asked whether those MPs who obtained the membership of the SLPP were entitled to remain as MPs in the House under Article 99(13) of the Constitution. “Under Article 99(13) of the Constitution, a member ceases to be an MP when he leaves the party from which he contested and joins another political party. A member is able to seek redress from court only if is expelled from the party he belongs to,” he said. “There is no party called the UPFA as it is an alliance. The SLFP is a party which belongs to that alliance. Therefore when a member leaves the SLFP and joins another party which does not belong to the UPFA he will lose his seat."

Mr. Hakeem said the validity of the appointment of Mr. Rajapaksa as the Leader of Opposition and the MP posts of those who joined the SLPP must be clarified. “We request the Speaker to suspend the appointment of the Opposition Leader and appoint a Select Committee to look into the validity of the parliamentary membership of those who have defected to the SLPP.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) member M.A. Sumanthiran also expressed similar views. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)

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Comments - 13

DHA Tuesday, 18 December 2018 10:36 PM

UNF better start addressing masses problems without wasting time on these silly things otherwise next election they will have to go home !!!

Saradiel Tuesday, 18 December 2018 11:07 PM

All those who took membership of SLPP, should be sent home since its not a recognized party at the time of election in 2015. They contested under SLFP ticket and now members of SLPP. We have to protect SLFP and Bandaranaike policies. MR is hell bent on ruining SLFP and creating SLPP under his name. Got to stop this.

Doratupala Tuesday, 18 December 2018 11:26 PM

How many such MPs? ( who joined pohottuwa by either resigning from SLFP or not)20- 30- 50 ? Or even more perhaps?ANOTHER great opportunity to protect democracy,Sack them from Parliament and APPOINT whomsoever monkey who’d toe the line- you’ll have a very democratic 2/3rd majority to do whatsoever you like to do with the country!Don’t miss it guys!:)

Rocket Wednesday, 19 December 2018 03:45 PM

Why is TNA and Hakeem so so he'll bent any way you don't have the majority in parliament to claim opposition leader. Is anything getting under the carpet to achieve your dreams.

Ragula Tuesday, 18 December 2018 11:30 PM

Do everything according to the constitution. May be it's high time for MR to take a rest constitutionally.

Triple X Tuesday, 18 December 2018 11:36 PM

Oh again Rajapakse s the main actor.

Another record for MR Wednesday, 19 December 2018 03:19 PM

And this may be another Guiness Book record

marusira Wednesday, 19 December 2018 05:29 PM

The villain since he is in Oppo

concern Tuesday, 18 December 2018 11:46 PM

Here we go again !!!

Siri Wednesday, 19 December 2018 12:37 AM

SLPP never existed during the last GE. So, how could there are people in the parliament representing this so called SLPP.

Jude Wednesday, 19 December 2018 01:28 AM

Kick them out of the House!!!

nsathees Wednesday, 19 December 2018 01:38 AM

Dear Speaker, make sure your ruling is correct according to the constitution.

Don Wednesday, 19 December 2018 07:30 AM

This is also a matter to be clarified by the Supreme Court before Attorney General rules out with a bias-judgement who is clueless about the 19th Amendment of the Constitution.

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Status of MPs joining SLPP - Speaker to rule on Select Committee

Comments - 13

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