Don’t use Parliament to protect thieves – PM
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday requested opposition members not to use Parliamentary privileges to protect thieves and persons engaged in corruption.
He made this observation in Parliament joining a debate following a statement by UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa.
The Prime Minister said the people in the country demand to reveal the names of those engaged in corruption. He said the people wanted to know this since the cost of living in the country has come down after 10 years as corruption has been eliminated under President Maithripala Sirisena’s regime.
The Prime Minister said Bandula Gunawardena and other opposition members were attempting to prevent the investigations against corruption.
He added that these MPs would come to Parliament, remain day and night in the House, drink whiskey and stand against investigations against corruption.
“Shame on you,” the Prime Minister said. “You should not use the Parliament to protect the thieves and those who engaged in corruption.”
He also questioned if those engaged in corruption should remain in Parliament.
The Prime Minister said the Speaker had powers to protect the privileges of the Parliamentarians only and he had acted accordingly.
He said the former Presidents are no more parliamentarians and their privileges cannot be raised in Parliament.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe added that however although the security of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and common opposition candidate who is the President today was withdrawn by the government, this government has guaranteed the security of the former President.
The Premier said the members who expected to be appointed as ministers when Maithripala Sirisena was elected as President, later sat with the opposition when their hopes were not realized.
He added those who make a fuss did not go to see the former president within the first two weeks after he lost the election. “But we did,” he said.
(Daily News)
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Can start with Mahendran thd the shokada ‘Bar Association of SL’ to set an example
How about investigating the false accusation of MR trying to overthrow the newly elected president by force?
Do you have any courage to make an inquiry for such lies and the deliberate liars who misled the Sri Lankan people and send those shameless liars to jail without protecting them in the parliament using parliament privileges!
What about the 100 day lie that you and the clan bribed the voters with so that the voters got cheated and you got their vote as you liked. Isn’t that false promise a “bribe” to get the undue vote from innocent people?
Has the executive presidency gone at the end of 100 days, as you lied? Don’t you think you and Sirisena has to “resign” under the so called gava paalanaya, if you know you cheated the innocent voters.
Dear Hon. PM.,
When you donned your black coat and took oaths as a lawyer you were fully aware that all are equal before the law and that no one is guilty unless and until PROVED otherwise. Your ascendency to the premiership on a ‘pina’ platter commanding a minority in the Parliament should also have prompted you to be cordial and magnanimous to the fellow members of the House. Instead you are throwing caution, cordiality and chivalry to the winds and forgetting tenants of basic diplomacy. Following a path of collision will not be in the good interest of the country. Please PM GROW UP.