The Attorney General (AG) does not have the power to decide on whether or not murder convict MP Premalal Jayasekara is allowed to attend Parliament sessions, Minister of Water Supply Vasudeva Nanayakkara said.
Minister Nanayakkara said a decision in this regard can only be drawn by the Speaker of the House or the Parliament and not by the AG.
The Attorney General can only decide whether or not to appear before courts as he functions within the confines of the case being taken up for consideration.
As MP Premalal Jayasekara has filed an appeal against his death sentence, the decree of his sentencing remains suspended until a final decision is pronounced by the Court of Appeal, he said.
The Minister further said that the Attorney General has to appear in Court to address the complaint when the case is taken up for hearing.
Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara made the observations during a media briefing held today.
His comments were in response to Attorney General (AG) today informing the Secretary General of Parliament and Ministry of Justice that MP Premalal Jayasekera who has been sentenced to death cannot take seat in parliament or exercise his vote.
The AG had issued the instruction after advise was sought by the Commissioner General of Prisons on the order issued by Speaker of the House Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Friday (28).
AG says under the law, even though Premalal Jayasekara has appealed against his death sentence only the carrying out of the death sentence is stayed not his conviction.
The Speaker had ordered the Commissioner General of Prisons to take necessary measures to escort Jayasekara for Parliament sittings scheduled for 08 September.
On 31 July, the Ratnapura High Court sentenced to death Premalal Jayasekara on charges of murdering another individual in Kahawatte in 2015.
However, Jayasekara had contested the General Elections on 05 August and had obtained a majority of votes to emerge as the second highest in the district. (Newswire)