SF wants all parliamentary privileges

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka today asked for all the parliamentary privileges he lost during the time he was in jail.

Raising a privilege issue in the House, Field Marshal Fonseka said he was court martialed twice during the previous regime. When he was sent to Welikada Prison it resulted in him losing parliamentary privileges.

“I took up politics and contested the January 2010 general elections following the request of several political leaders. I was arrested in February 2010 and later court martialed twice. I contested the April 2010 general elections and obtained 98,000 votes from the Colombo District. I contested while serving prison sentence. Apparently, I was sworn in as an MP.

However, I was sent to Welikada Prison on false charges. This resulted in me losing my parliamentary seat,” Fonseka said. He also said the general’s post he was given after the war, the pension and other privileges were taken away.

“Some of these were restored by President Maithripala Sirisena after January 8, 2015. However, I am requesting that I will be given all the parliamentary privileges I lost from 2010 to 2015 including the MP’s salary,” he added.

Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri who was at the chair, said the matter will be referred to the Speaker.(Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)