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| Sunday, 28 December 2003 |
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Commission under challenge say analysts : Bribery Commission Chief before Privileges Committee by Poddala Jayantha The Director-General of the Bribery and Corruption Commission Piyasena Ranasinghe has been summoned to appear before the Committee of Privileges of Parliament on January 9. It is learnt that this is a consequence to a complaint made by the UNP MP for the Puttalam District Palitha Ranga Bandara against the Commission on a matter of privilege. The MP had earlier complained to the Speaker that after he had criticised the Commission once a Bribery investigation against him had been completed the Commission had resumed the investigation against him. Mr. Ranasinghe's summons to appear before the Privileges Committee follows this complaint. This action has created controversy among MPs, Legal Experts and Civic Organisations. Mr. Ranasinghe says that he has received such a summon. However, he emphasised that even when the MP in question had made the statement in Parliament, the investigations against him was continuing and that there was no question of a closed file being re-opened. Expressing his views on the matter, Ratnapura District MP John Seneviratne said that if politicians are truly committed to a bribery-free society, they should not challenge the work of such independent bodies as the Bribery Commission. Attorney-at-Law Krishantha Weliamuna, Director of Transparency International said that as far as the Bribery and Corruption Commission or the revealing of assets are concerned there can be no question of Parliamentary Privilege, because MPs are also considered to be public servants. He added that neither the Executive, the Legislature nor the Judiciary should influence the Commission and that any such influence can create a wrong precedent. Attorney-at-Law S. G. Punchihewa was of the view that even if a MP was within his rights to raise a matter of privilege, he should fearlessly face such an inquiry. The convenor of the Free-Media Movement Sunanda Deshapriya said that since all citizens are equal before the Commission it would be a wrong precedence to challenge its activities on the grounds of Parliamentary Privilege before a different tribunal. He added that while he was not in agreement with some of the investigations of the Commission being expedited while others are dragging on, he did not approve of giving warning signals to the Commission. |
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