Aluthgamage criticises Election Commission over appointment of Mujibur as MP

• MP Rahaman is engaged in promoting Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa

By Yohan Perera  

Government MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage yesterday criticised the Election Commission for allowing the appointment of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahaman through the national list.  

Aluthgamage, speaking in Parliament, faulted the Election Commission, questioning how a candidate who intended to contest the Local Government election was appointed to Parliament via the national list.  

“The Election Commission talks about the appointment of coordinating officers to Governors. They questioned the appointment of Local Government election candidates as coordinating officers to Governors. However, the Commission is silent on the appointment of MP Rahaman from the national list despite him being a candidate for the Local Government election. MP Rahaman is engaged in promoting Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa,” he said.  

MP Rahaman, in response, said that he has been appointed to Parliament legally.  

“It is true that I resigned from Parliament to contest the Local Government election. I waited one and a half years for the government to hold the Local Government polls. As the election was not held, I decided to return to Parliament,” he said.