By Saman Indrajith
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena turned down an attempt by Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa to move a motion seeking parliamentary approval for leave of absence for Ratnapura District SJB MP Ranjan Ramanayake serving a prison sentence after being convicted by the Supreme Court.
Opposition Leader Premadasa accused the Speaker of being biased and said that the latter had rejected the orders of the authorities to bring Ranjan Ramanayake to Parliament.
He said that it was not clear why the Speaker had not allowed Ramanayake to attend Parliament.
Opposition Leader Premadasa said the Speaker’s actions were against Parliament traditions and accused him of turning a blind eye to the issue, despite the Court instructing Parliament to refrain from taking any action with regard to MP Ramanayake’s Parliament seat.