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Who will the Speaker ban for 7 years from parliamentary sittings?

19 July 2022 02:20 pm - 11     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena today informed the Parliamentary Business Council that MPs should not click pictures of their ballot papers and they should not be forced or influenced to vote for any particular candidate in tomorrow's Presidential election as this was against parliamentary rules.

Reports surfaced earlier today that some party leaders had informed their MPs to picture their ballot papers tomorrow to prove which candidate they had voted for.

When the matter was raised at the Parliament Business Council meeting, Speaker Abeywardena said that according to Section 20 of the Presidential Elections (special provisions) Act No. 2 of 1981, it outlines the rules regarding the voting including prohibiting influencing or coercing MPs who are voting in the election.

As this is a secret ballot any moves to force a MP to photograph their ballot will result in them being banned from sitting in Parliament for seven years. (Jamila Husain)


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  Comments - 11

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  • Tissa Fernando Tuesday, 19 July 2022 03:03 PM

    Yes , picture is for the deal money to be received.

    Ranmanika Tuesday, 19 July 2022 03:26 PM

    Why secret ballot ?

    Concerned Citizen Wednesday, 20 July 2022 09:28 AM

    Because it's specifically mentioned in Article 40 of the Constitution.

    Labby Tuesday, 19 July 2022 03:28 PM

    The way to prevent MPs from photographing their ballot is to ask them to surrender their mobile phones to the office of the Speaker when entering Parliament tomorrow. Yes, it is important that everyone plays by the rules and not be threatened by any bigwig.

    Triple X Tuesday, 19 July 2022 03:35 PM

    If then how can they prove to whom they voted, to get the lumps offered.

    anil Tuesday, 19 July 2022 03:54 PM

    Speaker your mandate is only for another 2 years, how can you ban anyone for 7 years Is there any provision in the constitution to do that

    Voter Tuesday, 19 July 2022 04:10 PM

    After this Parliament, the majority of the Pohottuwa chaps will not be sitting in Parliament for ever.Hence they wouldn't mind being banned for just the next two(2) years.

    Lawry Tuesday, 19 July 2022 04:44 PM

    The mobile smart phones should be handed over to one official before voting begins.

    joshua Tuesday, 19 July 2022 05:14 PM

    if the result is against the wishes of the people, the MPs want to safeguard themselves against any uprising?

    Anton Weerasinghe Tuesday, 19 July 2022 06:31 PM

    Funny Parliament, it is not an offense to sign a secret ballot paper but to click a snapshot is an offense. Law is an ass in Sri Lanka. Remember Delsey acchi's bag of gems in courts.

    GHT Tuesday, 19 July 2022 11:38 PM

    Ask every member of parliament to raise their hands who wish to elect a President, then the people of this country understand without any doubt that the ballot arranged in parliament was happened according to the constitutional provisions.


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