Possibility of expelling MP Ali Sabri Raheem No provision to expel MP Raheem - Parliament official

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

Political party leaders yesterday discussed the possibility of expelling MP Ali Sabri Raheem who was charged with attempting to smuggle gold.  

MPs who attended the party leaders meeting told journalists that the issue pertaining to MP Raheem was discussed at the meeting and it was decided that action has to be taken against the MP whom they believe had brought disrepute to all MPs.  

“Party leaders decided that action should be taken against MP Raheem. We decided to ask the incumbent Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana to take action against the MP,” an MP who attended the meeting said.  
“It was decided that action should be taken against MP Raheem and that he should be expelled,” a ruling party MP said.  Meanwhile Deputy Secretary General Tikiri Jayatilaka told Daily Mirror that there is no provision in the standing orders or in the Constitution to expel an MP.

 “An MP will lose his seat if he is convicted and subjected to a prison sentence more than six months. There was a case in 1956 when five MPs were expelled for corruption but that was done after they were found guilty by a commission appointed by the then Governor of Ceylon. We now follow the 1978 constitution and the constitution of the 1950s does not exist now,” he said.