Parliament seat reduced to level of lottery prize

By Shamindra Ferdinando-May 24, 2018, 11:30 pm 

In the absence of clear guidelines in respect of the issuance of duty-free vehicle permits to MPs entering parliament halfway, newcomers too can receive the benefit though they aren’t entitled to the pension. Interestingly, those resigning without completing five-year term they are elected/appointed to are also entitled to duty free vehicles though they lose pension rights.

Sudden resignation of All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) National List MP M.H.M. Navavi has paved the way for another to receive a new permit worth over Rs 33 mn.The ACMC is yet to name Navavi’s successor.

Navavi received a tax exemption amounting to Rs. 32,361.796 when he imported a super luxury Toyota Land Cruiser, seven seater, diesel vehicle. The Island is in possession of the data pertaining to the import and the sale of vehicles by current members of parliament courtesy attorney-at-law Nagananda Kodituwakku, who used RTI law to secure hitherto confidential information.

Denying that he had quit parliament suddenly, Navavi told The Island yesterday that he was given an opportunity to represent the people of Puttalam District following his defeat at the August 2015 parliamentary polls. "I missed a seat by less than 1,300 preferential votes," the former MP said.

Responding to another query, Navavi appreciated that his leader Rishad Bathiudeen had spoken to UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and secured him a parliamentary seat through the UNP National List.

Navavi handed over his letter of resignation to Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake on Wednesday (May 23).

Dassanayake wasn’t available for comment.

However, authoritative sources told The Island that there had been many instances of members quitting seats after receiving duty free vehicle permits.

Navavi said that he was aware he couldn’t serve the full term at the that time he received UNP National List slot.

Minister Bathiudeen confirmed the arrangement.

The Island sought an explanation from SLMC member Mohamed Hafeel Mohamed Salman, who quit his UNP National List seat in January, 2018 to pave the way for his party to appoint another member, on his decision to leave parliament. Salman, too, acknowledged that he knew he was not going to serve a full five-year term. Asked whether he, too, had preferred super luxury Land Cruiser like most of his colleagues, Salman confirmed importing much desired Toyota Land Cruiser which he described as a vehicle with good second hand value.

Salman was replaced by Mohammed Nazeer from Addalachenai.

Former Attorney General Sarath Mayadunne, too, received an opportunity to secure a duty free vehicle permit though he immediately resigned after having named JVP National List MP. Mayadunne refrained from abusing the facility though he, too, was tempted to do so, The Island learns.

In addition to them, former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka entered parliament in Feb. 2016 after the demise of National List MP M.K.D.S. Gunawardena. Fonseka, too, availed himself of the duty free facility like his predecessor.

Galle District MP Geetha Kumarasinghe’s successor Piyasena Gamage, too, received a duty free permit after the former actress lost the legal battle to retain her seat. Kumarasinghe was expelled from parliament for being a dual citizen of Switzerland and Sri Lanka contrary to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

The parliament enacted the 19th Amendment in April 2015 with the support of the Joint Opposition comprising UPFA MPs loyal to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Attorney-at-law Kodituwakku said that he moved the Supreme Court against the CIABOC(Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption) for turning a blind eye to the blatant abuse of duty free permits by MPs. The public litigation activist, in his submissions to the Supreme Court estimated the loss of state revenue due to this scheme at Rs 7 bn.

Additional Commissioner of Elections (Legal) M.M. Mohamad yesterday told The Island that once the Secretary General of Parliament informed NEC of a vacancy due to death or resignation of an MP, action would be taken to fill the slot. In case of a death or resignation of a National List MP, the NEC would inform the General Secretary of the particular political party he or she represented whereas in case of elected MP, the respective Chief Returning Officer of the district concerned consulted to fill the vacancy.

Mohamad said that the NEC or the previous Election Department had nothing to do with criterion as regards the issuance of duty free permits.