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| Saturday, 21 February 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Former Speaker must not misuse power: Anura Presidential Advisor Anura Bandaranaike in a press release yesterday said former Speaker Joseph Michael Perera, without an iota of shame, admitted to The Island of February 13, already revealed by a local TV station, that 'he was merely availing himself of an entitlement' to use the many official cars and perks, even after he has ceased to be Speaker after the dissolution of Parliament. This is a total distortion and a gross misuse of all previously accepted norms of Parliamentary practice. The Constitution of Sri Lanka is perfectly clear in section 64 (2): 'A member holding office of the Speaker, shall unless he earlier resigns his office by a writing under his hand addressed to the President, or ceases to be a member, vacate his office on the dissolution of Parliament'. Therefore, under the Constitution he has vacated office, upon dissolution, Bandaranaike said. The release added: "The amusing part is that former Speaker Perera, does not even know how many vehicles he and his staff use; they are supposedly to be over 10, which he does not even deny. Apart from a display of insatiable greed, Mr. Perera, a veteran Parliamentarian of over 20 odd years, should know better, not to misuse his powers, that he has not got in a shameless disgusting fashion. When I was the Speaker, before Mr. Perera, I returned all my vehicles, so did my staff, and they all resigned forthwith the very next day, after the dissolution. Obviously Mr. Perera intends to use these vehicles for his campaign in Gampaha, with petrol and drivers, unbecoming of a former Speaker. Though, we will be contesting the same District of Gampaha, I have not an iota of a problem as I have a lead of over 200,000 votes over him, at the last General Elections, which will be multiplied this time. Mr. Perera, flouting all accepted procedures and norms, will be held personally responsible, and answerable for his greedy misuse of Parliamentary property, after the UNP's ignominious defeat on April 2, 2004. Over to you Mr. Clean". |
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