Parliamentary party leaders have decided to call on all parliamentarians to make an official request to Member of Parliament (MP) Ali Sabri Raheem to relinquish his seat in Parliament.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran, PC told The Sunday Morning that the decision had been taken by the party leaders on Friday (26).

“The party leaders were in agreement that MP Raheem’s actions were not acceptable and that they would ask all MPs to ask MP Raheem to step down.”

Sumanthiran noted that this decision had been taken as there was no other way to have the MP removed from Parliament.

“The only way is for him to resign. The Speaker has no power to remove an MP; the Speaker can only suspend him for a temporary period.”

On Tuesday (23), MP Raheem was apprehended by Sri Lanka Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for attempting to enter the country with undisclosed quantities of gold and other items. 

The arrest took place following a tip-off received by Customs officials.

Raheem, who arrived on FlyDubai flight FZ 547, was intercepted at the VIP terminal as he tried to exit the airport. Subsequently, he was fined Rs. 7.5 million by Sri Lanka Customs before being released. 

The State has seized 3.397 kg of gold jewellery and biscuits valued at Rs. 74 million, as well as 91 smartphones worth Rs. 4.2 million, which were discovered in the possession of the MP upon his arrival at BIA.

However, Raheem told the media on Wednesday (24) that he was not aware of the goods in his baggage as it had been packed by one of his staff members. He claimed that he was being wrongly accused.

He further expressed his displeasure at the Government, saying that he had spoken to the President’s Secretary and the Prime Minister explaining his innocence, but had not received any leniency from the authorities.

It was also reported yesterday (27) that Raheem had left the country. No reason was given for his departure.