Select Committee to probe charges against UNP MP

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

The Government plans to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee to probe the charges against UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardane, Chief Government Whip Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

The Minister said the resolution against MP Jayawardane will be handed over to the Speaker tomorrow after the signatures of all Government MPs are collected.

After the resolution is handed over, the Speaker will inform the Opposition on the terms of reference. Asked about the main charges to be brought against the MP, Minister Gunawardena said basically charges would be similar to what the Government members highlighted in the House on Thursday.

Government members on Thursday in Parliament alleged that MP Jayawardane had incited pro-LTTE protests which resulted in the cancelation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s address to the Oxford Union. This led to an uproar in the House and sittings were suspended for nearly 45 minutes.

Government members also told the media on Thursday that the resolution would be brought against the MP for violating the oath the latter had given to Parliament.