Jayasekera sentenced to death can take oaths as MP, pending appeal

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Former UPFA Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekera, recently sentenced to death over a killing at Kahawatte, Ratnapura, in early January 2015, would be gazetted as an SLPP (Sri Lanka Podujana Peramauna) MP, Election Commission and Parliament officials told The Island yesterday.

 Jayasekera polled 142,037, the second highest number of preferential votes in the Ratnapura district.  Pavitra Wanniarachchi topped the list with 200,977 preferential ballots. The Election Commission corrected the number of preferential votes received by Jayasekera after having declared that he had received 104,237.

Director General of the Election Commission Saman Ratnayake and Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake said that they would follow normal procedures in respect of newly elected lawmakers.

 Ratnayake said that the EC would send the names of winners submitted by respective Returning Officers. The Ratnapura list containing Premalal Jayasekera’s name would be gazetted, he said, adding that Jayasekera would be asked to attend Parliament on August 20.

 Responding to another query, Ratnayake said that the EC had discussed the matter and was of the view it couldn’t decide on the eligibility of the winning candidate.

 Dasanayake said that the Attorney General could be consulted in that regard.

 Jayasekera was denied the opportunity to vote at the Aug 5 poll.

 Officials said the EC and Parliament couldn’t act hastily on the basis of Ratnapura High Court ruling in respect of Kahawatte killing. They pointed out that the process should continue pending a final determination by court regarding the Jayasekera case.

 Since the Ratnapura High Court gave the ruling Jayasekera was moved to Welikada.

 Jayasekera’s daughter Shenali told The Island that they had appealed against the Ratnapura High Court ruling. She said that she had inquired from MP elect Vasudeva Nanayakkara and was told that her father could take oaths along with other lawmakers on August 20.