Can MPs be sued over comments made in Parliament?
November 30, 2023 01:12 pm
Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena stated during today’s (Nov. 30) parliamentary session that no Member of the Parliament can be sued over the statements they make in the House.
The Speaker made this announcement in response to a question raised by Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa regarding the matter in Parliament, mentioning that a case has been filed before the courts against the former Sports Minister in relation to a statement he made in the Parliament.
A petition was filed before the Court of Appeal on Wednesday (29) seeking legal action against the former Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe over contempt of court.
The relevant petition was filed by Attorney-at-Law Dimitri Shiraz Augustus Pietrangeli, alleging that a recent statement made by the former minister in parliament was prejudicial to the President of the Appeals Court, his career and character.
The petitioning party says as per the parliamentary tradition, such statements cannot be made regarding the judges of the country’s top court.
The petitioning party had further requested the court to impose appropriate punishments against Ranasinghe regarding the charges of contempt of court and to ask him to show cause as to why he should not be penalized.
