Attorney General Dappula De Livera has advised the Secretary General of Parliament that Ranjan Ramanayake’s seat in parliament has become vacant in view of his conviction and sentence for Contempt of Court.
This was confirmed to News 1st by State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, the Coordinating Officer to the Attorney General.
Will Ranjan come to Parliament today?
However, party leaders yesterday urged Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to instruct Prison authorities to bring jailed MP SJB Ranjan Ramanayake to Parliament when the House convenes this morning.
Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella said that there was no constitutional bar to Ramanayake attending Parliament sittings as he remained a MP and requested the Speaker to ensure he was allowed to do so.
SJB MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara and TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran too spoke in support of Ramanayake’s right to attend sittings.
They said SLPP MP Premalal Jayasekera, who has been convicted of murder, had been allowed to attend sittings and hence Ramanayake too should be allowed to attend sittings as he remained a MP.
Ramanayake was sentenced to four years’ rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court last week on a contempt of court charge.
