By Saman Indrajith

Badulla District SJB MP Chaminda Wijesiri yesterday resigned from his seat.

He said that people abhorred politicians in Parliament and they also cursed the children of parliamentarians, and he did not want to see his children cursed by people.

“People today hate all of us. Our children, too, are cursed. It is my last request that an election be held and people be allowed to elect the representatives they prefer because this Parliament no longer represents the people’s mandate,” Wijesiri said.

“Many of us, including myself, are responsible for this. I know that this House has very few, including me, who have not committed offences. I always have tried my level best to represent the interests of those who had voted for me,” the MP said

He said that despite standing orders and parliamentary traditions many unparliamentary acts take place in the House and they are covered up. “For example, the Hansard contains statements which did not make it to the microphone. As per the orders given by the Chair, the Hansard should print only what we say to the mike. Yet there are many instances where this order is not adhered to and is covered up. This is a serious situation because the Hansard report could take up evidence elsewhere against us,” he said.

Wijesiri thanked Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa and stated that the latter had fatherly affection for him. “I continue to be in the SJB and support the party. Our leader was like a father to me and helped me always. I am happy to state that he, too, is a father of a child, and he spends his evenings with his family and child. I thank all my colleagues for assistance,” Wijesiri said, adding that he has already sent his letter of resignation to the Secretary General of Parliament.

Parliament sources said that, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadheera is expected to inform the Chairman of the National Elections Commission that a Badulla District SJB seat has fallen vacant with the resignation of Wijesiri, as per the provisions of the Section 64 (1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act No 1 of 1981.

Party sources said that the vacancy is to be filled by the next in the list of preferential votes at the last general election, Nayana Wasalthilaka, who obtained 31,307 votes.