Opposition MPs urge Speaker to safeguard their privileges

By Yohan Perera 

Fifteen  MPs have in writing requested Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene to  safeguard the privileges of MPs and their right of expression. 

The 15 MPs who had signed the letter are Rajitha Senaratne, M. H. A.  Haleem, Vadivel Suresh, Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, Kings Nelson, Manusha  Nanayakkara, Sujith Sanjaya Perera, S. M. Marikkar, Eran Wickramaratne,  Tissa Attanayake, Rishad Bathiudeen and Velu Kumar. 

In their letter they said the following;

You  are aware that MPs are legally guaranteed their freedom of expression.  This is because they are bound to speak on behalf of their electors in  Parliament. But in contrast, we have seen President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has  responded to MP Harin Fernando outside the House. He had even gone to  the extent of reprimanding the MP.  The President has the right to come to  Parliament and respond to the MP. We believe that President’s action is  an attempt to challenge a privilege enjoyed by an MP. Therefore, we  request you to safeguard the freedom of expression enjoyed by MPs and  to safeguard their privileges as the leader of all parliamentarians. 

• We believe that President’s action is  an attempt to challenge a privilege enjoyed by an MP