In April, Parliament instructed the CID to take steps to allow former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen to attend parliamentary sittings.
Wanni District Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen, who is currently being detained and questioned, had instructed Parliamentary Serjeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando to write to the Director of the CID, Mahinda Rajapaksa, requesting him to take necessary steps if he so requested.
Accordingly, it has been decided to convene the Parliament on May 04 and 05 from 10.00 am and arrangements have been made to bring the Member of Parliament to Parliament by 9.30 am.
Mr. Fernando had further stated in the letter that Mr. Bathiudeen should be brought to Parliament as per the instructions and recommendations given by the health authorities due to the Kovid 19 epidemic.
This week’s Parliament convened yesterday (04) and yesterday MP Rishad Bathiudeen had not been brought to Parliament. The reason given was the prevailing Kovid epidemic.
The Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa addressing the Parliament today (05) stated that the privileges of the Member of Parliament Rishad Bathiudeen have been violated by not allowing him to attend the Parliament.
Meanwhile, Minister of Public Defense Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera stood up and requested the Speaker not to allow Rishad Bathiudeen to enter Parliament until the end of the investigation as he has been arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
He further said that if MP Rishad is brought to Parliament, he is likely to raise information / heard questions in the investigations under the privileges of a Member of Parliament and it will be an obstacle to further investigations. Therefore, he requested the Speaker not to summon the Member of Parliament until the end of the investigation.
His statement provoked strong protests from the Opposition and the Minister of Public Defense had a heated exchange of words with Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka.
The Speaker said that he had been informed that he had not been able to take any further action in the light of the current situation in covid 19 and that he had only been informed that the situation was further aggravated and that a decision should be taken after discussions.
However, despite the Minister of Public Security attempting to prevent MP Rishad Bathiudeen from entering Parliament, the Attorney General has informed the CID today (05) that there is no legal impediment to MP Rishad Bathiudeen’s entry into Parliament.