Prisons Dept. in quandary over allowing ‘Choka Malli’ to attend Parliament

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

The Prisons Department is in a state of perplexity as to allow convicted Premalal Jayasekera alias ‘Choka Malli’ to attend Parliament proceedings.   

Prisons Commissioner and Spokesman Chandana Ekanayake told Daily Mirror that they hope to write to the Secretary to the Justice Ministry on the matter and then arrive at a decision.   

“The Attorney General has also told that Premalal Jayasekara has no right to take oaths as an MP. Against this backdrop, we are yet to make a final decision,” he added.   

However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said in Parliament on Friday (28) that he had informed the Prison Commissioner General to allow Jayasekara to attend the next Parliamentary session.   

The Attorney General earlier informed the Ministry of Justice that Premalal Jayasekara, who has been issued the death sentence, has no legal right to take oaths as a Member of Parliament.

   
Meanwhile, prisons sources said Premalal Jayasekera has been admitted to the Prison Hospital over his bad health condition.   

Sources said he had been observed by a visiting doctor, who had found several complications in ‘Choka Malli’ following which he had been admitted to Ward No. 3.   

Ratnapura preceding High Court Judge Rohan Jayasuriya on August 1 handed down the death sentence on SLPP MP Premalal Jayasekara and two others upon conviction for murder charges.