House becomes a camp site
 The
sleep-in protest by the Opposition MPs continued until the commencement
of Tuesday's proceedings at 9.30 am, alleging that former President
Rajapaksa had been summoned by the Bribery Commission for merely
appointing former UNP General Secretary MP Tissa Attanayake as Health
Minister prior to the Presidential election.
The dignity and decorum of Parliament came under threat on Monday for
the first time in its history, when a group of UPFA MPs, the supporters
of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa staged an overnight protest in the
well of the House demanding that the Bribery Commission
withdraws its decision to summon the former President to record a
statement. Opposition members who enacted this drama called upon
President Maithripala Sirisena to put an end to the political witch-hunt
against Opposition politicians including the former President and ex-Defence
Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The sleep-in protest by the Opposition MPs continued until the
commencement of Tuesday's proceedings at 9.30 am. They alleged that
former President Rajapaksa had been summoned by the Bribery Commission
for merely appointing former UNP General Secretary MP Tissa Attanayake
as Health Minister prior to the Presidential election. It was evident
that the motive behind their protest was to gain political mileage
amidst controversy over the passage of the 19th Amendment to the
Constitution. Despite the court order, a demonstration was also held on
the access road to Parliament protesting against summoning former
President to the Bribery Commission.
Serious concern
 Opposition members on Monday (April 20) raised serious concern over
the legitimacy on the part of Director General of Bribery Commission to
summon the former President to record a statement. The issue turned into
a hot topic due to the divergent views by several Government and
Opposition members. MEP Leader MP Dinesh Gunawardena raising a privilege
issue drew the attention of the House on media reports that former
President Mahinda Rajapaksa had been summoned before the Bribery
Commission for bestowing a ministerial portfolio on Tissa Attanayake. MP
Gunawardena alleged that the Bribery Commission was acting in an
arbitrary manner by summoning parliamentarians, their spouses and
children before it thereby breaching the privileges of the MPs.
Gunawardena's remarks led to an uproar in the well of the House when all
UPFA MPs fully endorsed the facts highlighted by him. Some UPFA MPs who
joined in the debate queried the legitimacy on the part of the Bribery
Commission to summon the former President as he enjoyed immunity under
the 1978 Constitution.
Deputy Foreign Minister, Ajith P. Perera countering this argument
recalled the Supreme Court determination on the legal immunity of the
President in the Water's Edge case against former President Chandrika
Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. UPFA parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa argued
if bestowing ministerial portfolios is bribe-taking, all UPFA MPs who
had joined the Government and obtained ministerial portfolios should
also be summoned by the Bribery Commission.
Restraining order
Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe told the House that the former
President could obtain a restraining order against the Bribery
Commission's decision if he so desired. He said in lighter vein that he
has been accused of protecting the former President. If the former
President is not treated well, it is up to them to take it up with the
SLFP and not the Speaker, the Prime minister told the vociferous MPs. He
called on the Opposition members not to use Parliamentary privileges to
safeguard crooks and those involved in corruption.
Despite the assurance given by the Speaker that he would discuss the
matter and take steps to safeguard the MPs' privileges, the Opposition
members decided to continue their protest in the well of the House. The
UPFA members had an enjoyable time in the Chamber exchanging
pleasantries with each other and taking photographs and videoing various
postures. Minutes later, UPFA Parliamentarian, Ranjith Zoysa obtained
signatures from UPFA MPs for a letter to be sent to President Sirisena
against the harassment of the former President.
Moreover, a substantive motion signed by 116 UPFA parliamentarians
was also handed over to Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa on Monday demanding
that Dilrukshi Dias Wickremesinghe be removed from the post of Director
General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or
Corruption (CIABOC) for misusing the powers of the CIABOC Act, drawing
two salaries from two public institutions.
Postponed
The much anticipated debate on the 19th Amendment to the Constitution
was postponed until April 27 as the main Opposition called upon the
Government to give them adequate time to study the amendments. While
President Sirisena waited in the Parliamentary complex on Tuesday to
commence the Second Reading debate on the 19th Amendment, the debate was
later postponed for April 27 and 28. However, due to the protest
launched by the Opposition
MPs on Monday that continued till Tuesday and suspension of sittings
due to MPs shouting against what they called a political witch-hunt
against Opposition politicians such as former President Rajapaksa and
ex-Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the 19th Amendment debate could
not be taken up for debate.
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