Bathiudeen allowed to attend Parliament sittings next week

• CID requested to follow health guidelines when taking the MP to Parliament

By Ajith Siriwardana 

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has decided to allow MP Rishad Bathiudeen to attend parliament sittings this week if he wishes to attend the sittings, Parliament sources said.  

Serjeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando has informed CID Director to take Bathiudeen to attend parliament sittings as per the request made by the Speaker under Parliament Privileges Act, only if he made a request. Fernando has informed the CID to follow health guidelines imposed by the Government when taking the MP to Parliament. 
He has also informed the prison authorities to make provisions for Ratnapura District MP Premalal Jayasekara, who was in jail, to attend Parliament sittings if he wishes. 

MP Bathiudeen was not brought to parliament during the previous Parliament week despite repeated requests by the opposition. 

Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara requested the Speaker not to allow Bathiudeen to attend Parliament sittings until investigations against him are completed claiming that no MP, who was detained under PTA, should be allowed to attend Parliament sittings. 

• Ratnapura District MP Premalal Jayasekara, who was in jail, to attend Parliament sittings if he wishes