Closure of Courts :

MP says his privileges violated

UPFA Puttalam District Parliamentarian Arundika Fernando yesterday said that his privileges as an MP had been violated by the fact that his constituents who elected him were denied the opportunity of being heard as litigants due to the absence of Judges in the Puttalam, Chilaw, Marawila Magistrate Courts and Colombo Commercial High Court on three working days.

He said the people were deprived of legal remedies since the magistrates and judges had gone to Colombo for meetings on working days complying with a directive of the Chief Justice, her Secretary and the Secretary to the Judicial Service Commission acting on the orders of the CJ.

MP Fernando raising the privilege mater in the House requested the President, the Speaker and Justice Minister to take action against those responsible for disrupting Court activities and putting people into inconvenience. He also requested for action to be taken against those who disrupt public services irrespective of the positions they hold to protect his privileges and rights of the people.

He added that he was elected to Parliament obtaining the second highest preferential votes in the Puttalam district and thus he is duty bound to address the problems of his people as an MP. He added that the people in his area brought these matters to his notice on al three occasions.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said that the matter will be directed to the Privilege Committee.