8 October, 2020
The Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena today observed that access to the Parliamentary Affairs Division at Pelawatta Battaramulla was strictly for the staff members only as one family member of its staff had been affected by the COVID-19.
He made this observation in Parliament in response to a privilege issue raised by Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP) parliamentarian Shan Wijelal de Silva who said that his access to the building was denied by the security offices. He added that he had to stay for 35 minutes outside the premises to collect his documents. He said he introduced himself to the security officers as a parliamentarian but they told him that the additional secretary had instructed them not to allow any in, other than staff members.
He said that until 9.05 am he was standing there to collect his documents and the Additional Secretary of the Division had not turned out to the office until then. He said a public administration assistant came out of the office and handed the documents over to him.