Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Jagath Wickramaratne, has announced that the Leader of the House had not breached Parliament’s privileges concerning the nomination of the Director General of the Bribery Commission to the National Constitutional Council.
Announcing his ruling on the matter raised by MP Dayasiri Jayasekara in Parliament recently (07), the Speaker said MP Jayasekara had alleged that the Leader of the House had misled the National Constitutional Council during the process of nominating a candidate for the post of Director General of the Bribery Commission.
Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne further said that MP Jayasekara alleged that this had led the a breach of Parliament’s privilege and the matter be referred to the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges for investigation.
Announcing his ruling on the matter, the Speaker said the Constitutional Council is established as a distinct and independent constitutional body and does not fall under the Parliament Powers and Privileges Act.
“The Constitutional Council functions under the constitution itself, and not under the authority of the Parliament or its standing orders. Therefore, any decisions or proceedings of the Constitutional Council cannot be regarded as proceedings of Parliament or of a committee of Parliament,” he said.
As such, the Speaker said that as the Constitutional Council is not a committee of Parliament, the allegations regarding misleading the council do not fall under the Parliament Powers and Privileges Act or deliberation of the council.
“Even if a Member of Parliament made an incorrect statement before the Council, it would not constitute a breach of privilege. The Council’s decisions are final and conclusive, subject only to fundamental rights applications before the Supreme Court,” he said.
Stating that the allegations do not disclose any matter of breach of parliamentary privilege, the Speaker said, therefore, the issue will not be referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges. (Newswire)