Appointment of select committee to probe ex members of elections commission approved

• Chief Opposition Whip who objected said the probing  of ex-members of the EC is an inflicting of undue  influence on the members of independent commissions

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   
The appointment of a select committee to probe whether ex members of the election commission have infringed the privileges of MPs and to make suitable recommendations was approved in Parliament yesterday.   
The committee is appointed to investigate matters relating to the election commission in respect of incidents of infringement of MPs and to make recommendations as former Chairman of Election Commission N. G. Punchihewa, members S. B. Vivaratne, M. M. Mohammed, K. P. P. Pathirana and P. S. M. Charles are likely to have infringed the privileges of MPs. The resolution argues that they have infringed the privileges of MPs as they have ceased to hold office by article 30(4) of the 21st amendment to the constitution during the time it declared the local government poll.   

However Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella who objected said the probing of ex-members of the Election Commission is an inflicting of undue influence on the members of independent commissions appointed under the constitution.   
National People’s Power MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the legislature cannot bulldozer other institutions including the judiciary. He was also referring to impending court cases on the postponement of local government elections. “The proposed select committee may influence the verdicts of the two pending cases pertaining to local government polls,” he said.