Speaker to give ruling

4 August 2010 04:28 pm

By Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera


Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa told Parliament today that he would give his ruling tomorrow on the privilege issues raised by DNA Leader MP General Sarath Fonseka previously.

General Fonseka raised a question of Privilege again saying that he was not permitted by military officials to attend the Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting yesterday.

General Fonseka said that he had the same problem earlier. On July 29, he said, a three-member Bench of Judges also ruled that his Parliamentary Privileges should be upheld.

“I regret that I have to raise the same Privilege Issue in the House over and over again,” he said.

General Fonseka sought the support from all Parliamentary colleagues across the party divide to ensure justice and fair play for him. The DNA leader tabled a copy of the Court Ruling given on July 29, in the House today.

“I think the business of this House has been devalued in this action by these military officers,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga proposed that two privilege issues raised General Fonseka and UNP MP Palitha Thevarapperuma be referred to the Privilege Committee of Parliament. The House agreed unanimously on it.