• Cabinet approval received to draft a Bill with views of Speaker, political party leaders  
• Committee probing Diana vs. Sujith Sanjaya Perera & Rohana Bandara incident to meet today  

Following recent unruly events that unfolded in Parliament, the Government has decided to establish an independent body to oversee the conduct of Parliamentarians.

Prime Minister and Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena and Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, President’s Counsel Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe have tabled a joint proposal in this regard at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (23). Accordingly, the Cabinet gave the nod to obtain the views of the Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana and the leaders of the political parties representing Parliament on the basic draft Bill for the setting up of a code of conduct for MPs and appointing a panel for the overseeing related aspect. Cabinet approval was also given to instruct the Legal Draftsman’s Department to prepare a draft Bill after taking into account the views of the Speaker and the political party leaders. It is reported that President and Minister of National Policies Ranil Wickremesinghe, who presided over Monday’s Cabinet meeting, had rebuked the unruly behaviour of the MPs.

This comes after the recent intense war of words and claims of alleged assaults involving State Minister Diana Gamage, and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Opposition MPs K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera and Rohana Bandara. Meanwhile, the Committee appointed by Speaker Abeywardana to look into last week’s tense situation at the Parliamentary premises is scheduled to convene for the first time today (25) at 11 a.m. The Committee, chaired by Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse, consists of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP Chamal Rajapaksa, SJB MPs Gayantha Karunatilleka and Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, and SLPP MP and Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana. The Committee has been appointed to investigate the alleged attack on Gamage in the Parliament complex last week. 

Speaker Abeywardana announced late last week that a committee was appointed to look into the allegations made by Gamage that Perera had assaulted her outside Parliamentary Chambers on 20 October. When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (24), Rajapakse said that the Committee would have its first meeting today, and discuss the future proceedings. In response to a query as to whether there was a deadline for the Committee to conclude its proceedings, he said: "There is no such a deadline. We will meet, discuss and take necessary actions." The Speaker has directed the Committee to investigate the alleged incident in consideration of the facts and complaints presented by both the parties and to submit a report regarding the matter.

Addressing Parliament on 20 October, Gamage accused Perera of having assaulted her outside the Chambers, near the Parliament library. She had called upon the Speaker to initiate an investigation and take action regarding the alleged incident. Perera said that he had witnessed a heated argument between Gamage and Bandara, and that Gamage had allegedly attacked him when he tried to intervene to settle the argument.  

According to a brief on the Parliamentary Standards Bill, President Wickremesinghe had appointed former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, incumbent Advisor to the President Priyani Wijesekara, the Secretary General of the Constitutional Council Dhammika Dasanayake, the Senior Additional Secretary to the President Deepani Kumarajeewa and former Additional Secretary to the President Chaminda Kularatne to draft the proposed Bill by analysing models in comparative jurisdictions. The key objectives of the proposed Bill are to ensure the credibility, accountability and professionalism of MPs, thereby enhancing public trust in Parliament. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority that has been proposed to be established is to act as a regulatory model entrusted with duties and functions which include determining and reviewing the remuneration, allowances and amenities of MPs, the preparation, implementation and regulation of the Code of Conduct for MPs, taking disciplinary action against MPs after submitting such through the Parliamentary Committee on Ethics and Privileges and subject to Parliamentary approval, and maintaining the Register of MPs Interests.