Speaker leaves smuggler MP’s fate to party leaders

By Norman Palihawadane

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena yesterday (05) said that he had decided to allow the leaders of the parties represented in Parliament to decide whether to allow Ali Sabri Raheem who had been nabbed at the BIA with contraband gold and mobile phones worth around Rs. 80 million to continue to be an MP.

Speaker Abeywardena said that the Sri Lanka Customs had submitted a comprehensive report regarding MP Ali Raheem.

The report had been submitted by Sri Lanka Customs in response to a request made by the Speaker, pertaining to Raheem’s abortive smuggling bid.

The Speaker said that the report would be submitted to the upcoming party leaders’ meeting and a final decision taken.

Speaker Abeywardena said that he had already issued a show-cause letter to MP Raheem but the latter had not yet responded.