• SJB queries hypocrisy of MP bringing gold illegally being permitted to attend and vote on resolution  
• Janaka Ratnayake claims no response from P’ment Secy Gen. while Speaker says gallery closed 

Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa expressed critical views on Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Ratnayake and his family members not being allowed to attend the Parliamentary session yesterday (24) when the resolution to remove Ratnayake as the PUCSL Chairman was debated.

Criticisms were also made in the Parliament about not allowing Ratnayake and his family to watch the Parliamentary proceedings while a Parliamentarian who had brought gold to the country illegally (Ali Sabri Raheem) had been allowed to come to the Parliament and vote on the relevant resolution.

The resolution presented by Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekera to remove Ratnayake was taken up for debate in the Parliament yesterday. Speaking during the debate, Premadasa said: "I came to know of a surprising incident. Ratnayake and his family are barred from watching this debate from the gallery. It is said that the gallery is closed. However, a MP who smuggled gold and some other items to the country yesterday (23) can pay a fine, come to the Parliament today (24), and vote for this resolution. Is this right? Is this the system change?"

At this time, MPs representing the Opposition were heard saying “It is a shame”.

SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne also commented on the matter: "Ratnayake and his family, from what we have heard, were not allowed into the gallery of the Parliament today. Even if a person is convicted in a court of law, they can be present there. So, why does he not have a voice here, at least as an observer? He should be allowed to listen to the arguments that are made against him. Instead, we are allowing a MP who has smuggled gold to vote on this resolution. I mean surely, there is a lot that all of us have to rethink about our behaviour."

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Ratnayake said that he had made a request to the Secretary General of the Parliament in writing that he be allowed to watch the relevant Parliamentary debate, but that there had been no response to it. "As there was no reply to my letter, I contacted the Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana and he said that the gallery would be closed. That is not something that is acceptable."

Ratnayake continued to refuse granting permission for the implementation of the electricity tariff revision as requested by the Ceylon Electricity Board early this year (2023), claiming that it was illegal. In January, Wijesekera announced his decision to remove Ratnayake. Prior to the relevant resolution being tabled in the Parliament, a charge sheet signed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, had been sent to Ratnayake on 22 March, 2023, to which he had replied with lengthy explanations.