Ranil claims arrest of MP Bathiudeen not done according to procedure

By Saman Indrajith

Leader of the UNP Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday that the executive action hindering the functioning of the legislature was against parliamentary principles.

Wickremesinghe said that the use of police force by the executive to suppress the MPs was against Westminster parliamentary traditions and amounted to a breach of the parliamentary privileges of MPs. “It is a known fact in British Parliamentary system to inform Parliament first before arresting an MP. This tradition is the practice the world over since 1642. Parliament that exercises the legislative power of the people should be free from the influences of the Executive,” the UNP leader said.

The former Prime Minister raised concerns with recent attempts to question MP Harin Fernando over a statement made by him in Parliament regarding the Easter Sunday attack.

UNP Leader Wickremesinghe said that MP Fernando’s comments made following the

Easter Sunday attacks had been dealt with by a Presidential Commission of Inquiry. “There is only one conclusion, they want to intimidate him”, he said.

He said that there were attempts to intimidate and detain MPs raising concerns that the rights of the House were being infringed upon by the recent detention of MP Rishad Bathiudeen. 

Wickremesinghe said that while the Parliament does not request immunity from arrest, if required by law, the House must be informed of the cause of the detention of an MP. 

UNP leader Wickremesinghe explained that the current detention of MP Bathiudeen had been done without providing a cause for the arrest to the Parliament.

He added that it went against the rights of the House, which required the cause for a detention of a Member to be presented to the House.

The former Prime Minister urged the Speaker to safeguard the Parliament by safeguarding the rights of its Members and the powers of the Cabinet, who are ultimately responsible to Parliament. 

Wickremesinghe asked that the Speaker provide a ruling on those matters raised while also urging that it be referred to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the International Parliament Union.