Speaker's suspicion focused on sexual abuse ....

Speaker's suspicion focused on sexual abuse ....

on a female MP, at parliament compound

Among the handful of female members of parliament in Sri Lanka are film stars, widows, young beauties and the like in various forms. So far no information has been received to the effect that any of them have been subjected to sexual harassment in parliament as such. However, an announcement issued by the Speaker's office says that

the Speaker Mr. Karu Jayasuriya has focused his attention yesterday about this. The Speaker Mr. Karu Jayasuriya has stated in that announcement that if at all some form of sexual harassment or anything on those lines had occured within the parliament, to notify him immediately, making the appeal to female members of parliament. The Speaker had further stated that if information regarding such an unpleasant incident happens to be confirmed, maximum action would be taken irrespective of the Party or standing. It has not been explained as to under what circumstances such a procedure has been adopted by the Speaker's office to issue such an announcement.

On enquiring from the Speaker's office, what they inform is that such a complaint of harassment has not been received by them. Whatever it is, according to political sources a smoke would not occur without a fire and that a hidden incident is behind this where a certain individual is involved in trying to commit an act of harassment of a sexual nature   against a female member of parliament, it was said. It was also understood that this announcement has been released with the purpose of preventing any such incident in future.