• Responds to SLPP MPs’ group writing to Speaker seeking PSC to probe EC not notifying P’ment of LG polls’ issues

Emphasising that they have always acted as per the Constitution, the Election Commission (EC) stated that they are therefore not worried about the recent complaint made by a group of Government Parliamentarians that their privileges have been violated due to the activities of the EC.

A letter signed by 14 Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Government MPs including Milan Jayathilake, Sahan Pradeep Withana, Sudarshana Denipitiya, Kokila Gunawardena, Thissa Kuttiarachchi, and Upul Rajapaksha had recently been handed over to Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, requesting the latter to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to look into the conduct of the EC which the MPs had claimed had breached the privileges of the MPs.

When contacted by The Daily Morning and queried regarding whether the EC had been informed of the relevant complaint or any investigation with regard to it, EC Chairman Attorney Nimal G. Punchihewa said that the EC is yet to receive a notification in that regard. “We do not have to worry about this matter. As the EC, we have always acted as per the Constitution. Even during an inquiry into this matter, all we have to say is that we have made all decisions according to the relevant provisions of the Constitution,” he said.

The letter, which was handed over to Abeywardana by the said MPs, cites the appointment of the EC consisting of five members on 3 December 2020, and its responsibility towards Parliament under the relevant provisions of the Constitution. In the letter, the MPs claimed that the EC had failed to report the issues pertaining to holding the upcoming Local Government (LG) elections to Parliament.

They had also stated that if the privileges of the MPs have been breached, such should be investigated, and that suitable recommendations should be made regarding such. Noting that the Speaker could appoint a seven-member PSC under Standing Order 101 to probe the conduct of the EC, the relevant MPs had pointed out that such a PSC would have the power to summon any person to appear before it, require any person to produce any document or record, receive evidence, obtain the services of specialists and experts in the relevant fields, and make interim reports from time to time.

The request made by the MPs has been included in the agenda of the Parliament, and Speaker Abeywardana told The Daily Morning last month that he is awaiting the decision of party leaders to take the next course of action in that regard.