Karu wants MPs to follow code of conduct to regain public trust

Text and Pic by Thushara Athapaththu

Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, on Saturday, called on all party leaders as well as the current Speaker to ensure that the Code of Conduct for MPs, which was adopted by the House in 2016 is strictly followed to rebuild public trust in their elected representatives.

Speaking at a ceremony at the Sri Lanka Foundation, where the memoirs of former Secretary General of Parliament Nihal Seneviratne, titled ‘Memories of 33 years in Parliament’ was launched, Jayasuriya said that the Code of Conduct had been adopted when he was the Speaker.

“When I was the Speaker, I used to tell MPs that they must earn respect and be worthy of being addressed as ‘Honourable Members’. This can only be achieved by their own conduct and not otherwise. Unfortunately, I don’t think many of them follow that,” he said.

The deplorable behaviour of a few MPs had tarnished the image of all parliamentarians and led to the calls to oust all 225 of them, Jayasuriya said.

He said only decent men and women should be nominated to contest elections.

Jayasuriya also said he supports the ongoing protests calling for change. “I understand their sentiments; they don’t want politicians to ruin their future. We have to understand their grievances, listen to them,” he said.

MP Eran Wickramaratne, former MP D.E.W. Gunasekera, Prof Savitri Gunasekara and Rohan Pethiyagoda also spoke at the book launch.