MP Rasamanickam seeks Speaker’s protection from Governor of EP

By Saman Indrajith

TNA Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam on Tuesday (9) raising a privilege issue complained that he had been continuously harassed by Eastern Province Governor Anuradha Yahampath.

The MP complained to the Speaker that the Governor had lodged a complaint with Senior DIG Batticaloa against him on the basis of a statement he had made in Parliament.

“Everybody, including the Senior DIG, knows that it was against my parliamentary privileges to investigate me on a statement I made here. The Senior DIG is helpless in this issue and told me that though he was aware of the legal situation with regard to this particular instance he had to record a statement from me because the governor has made the complaint. This is not the first time the governor has acted against me. She has issued statements against me to the newspapers on many prior occasions. As I believe that you are committed to protect the privileges of the MPs, I call on you to take actions against this governor who is not fit to hold that position,” the MP said.

The governor is not fit for that position because she has violated the Constitution in making some appointments to the Batticaloa Municipal Council. She is also disrespecting the judiciary. I am a petitioner in a case on some incidents of land grabbing in the Mahaweli areas in the Eastern Province. She has taken some actions to disrespect the judiciary,” MP Rasamanickam said.

The MP said that he was the youngest member from the Opposition in the House and was also the one who had been the target for many vilifications. “They call me names when I make speeches here, at consultative committees I am being called names, I hope the Speaker will take action with regard to this,” the MP said.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena promised to consider the MP’s request.