(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Businessman Dhammika Perera took oaths in Parliament today as a National List MP of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
He took oaths before Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena in Parliament.
Dhammika Perera took oaths after the court had yesterday dismissed petitions filed against his appointment as an MP.
The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and its Executive Director had filed a Fundamental Rights application challenging the appointment of Dhammika Perera to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Basil Rajapaksa, as a Member of Parliament elected under Article 99A of the Constitution (the National List).
The CPA submitted that Perera’s appointment is illegal, arbitrary, irrational, grossly unreasonable, contrary to law and will if unchecked cause grave and irremediable harm and prejudice to the People of Sri Lanka and the Rule of Law itself. CPA further maintained that this appointment constitutes an infringement and continuous infringement of the fundamental rights of the People of Sri Lanka guaranteed under Articles 10 [Freedom of thought, conscience and religion], 12(1) [Right to equal protection of the law], and 14(1)(a) [Freedom of speech and expression] of the Constitution
