Allow MP to attend Parliament

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday directed Deputy Prisons Reforms Minister Vijith Vijayamuni Zoysa to make arrangements to enable UNP Kalutara district MP Palitha Thevarapperuma who is in remand to participate in Parliamentary sessions without delay.

Although MP Thevarapperuma was to raise a privilege issue in the House yesterday he could not make it due to his delay to attend Parliament.

Later the MP who arrived in the chamber raised a point of order and complained to the Speaker that he could not come to Parliament on time due to a delay caused by prisons officials.

The Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said MP Thevarapperuma should be allowed to participate in Parliamentary sessions on time. Otherwise the Commissioner General of Prisons should be summoned before the privileges committee and questioend.

The Government should give a clarify this issue when House meets next Monday, Wickremesinghe said.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa agreed to look into the matter and take necessary action.