31 August 2020 04:49 pm
While claiming that the Attorney General had no power to decide on Premalal Jayasekara attending Parliament sittings, Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said today it should be decided by the Speaker and Parliament.
He told a news conference that the AG can only appear in court on behalf of the plaintiff.
“The AG has said that MP Jayasekara cannot attend Parliament sittings. He has no power to decide that. It should be decided by the Speaker and Parliament. The AG can only appear in court on behalf of the petitioner,” he said responding to a question raised by a journalist.
He said Mr. Jayasekara has filed an appeal against the verdict and added that the verdict is halted after being appealed.
“He is not a convict now. It is decided after the verdict of the Court of Appeal. If he was convicted by the Court of Appeal, then, everything is over,” he said.
Minister Nanayakkara said former MP Duminda Silva, who was convicted, was also allowed to attend Parliament sittings after appealing against the court order. (Ajith Siriwardana)