Sri Lanka's opposition lawmakers today demanded the removal of an anti-graft panel chief alleging "biased conduct" after she summoned former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to appear before the commission to give a statement on his alleged breaking of election laws.
Director General of the Commission to Investigate Bribery Or Corruption Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasingha's move to summon Rajapaksa to appear before the commission triggered a stormy debate in parliament this morning.
"We move for her removal because her conduct is unacceptable," Nimal Siripala de Silva, the main opposition leader, told parliament.
"We the opposition MPs have signed a petition calling for her removal with 1134 signatures," said Bandula Gunawardena, an opposition legislator.
"Everyone is equal before the law," Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rajapaksha said.
MPs loyal to the former president staged protest last night demanding that Wickramasingha withdraw the notice issued to Rajapaksa.
The protesting MPs who slept in the well of the chamber urged Rajapaksa's elder brother Chamal Rajapaksa, the parliamentary speaker, to summon Wickramsingha to question her conduct.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe argued that the former president was not a parliamentarian so he was not covered by parliamentary privilege.
Making a special statement after having talks with the Chairman of the anti-graft commission, the speaker said that he had instructed the Commission to exercise more care in summoning parliamentarians.
Since the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa in the January presidential election a host of his regime members have faced graft charges.
