The public will have the opportunity to lodge complaints of unethical conduct by MPs and their breach of provisions under the final draft of amendments to the Code of Conduct for MPs
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday tabled in Parliament the final draft of amendments to the Code of Conduct for MPs and the Standing Orders (SO) of Parliament in keeping with the changes that have taken place in the legislature in the past two decades. The Speaker said the changes to the Code of Conduct and SO have been made to suit with international standards and maintain higher standards for public representatives.
As outlined in the Code of Conduct of MPs, a new Parliamentary Committee is to be set up in the future to deal with hiding of any information by the MPs with regard to their assets.
According to the final draft complaints have to be countersigned by an MP and to be forwarded to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges proposed to be set up under the new Standing Orders.
Tabling the draft, Speaker Jayasuriya said that they had been prepared with the intention of improving the conduct of MPs to international standards.
According to the draft Code of Conduct, the MPs shall act in a manner that is respectful of their fellow MPs and citizens including Parliamentary staff with dignity and courtesy without diminishing the dignity of the Parliamentary institution. MPs are barred from assaulting, harassing or intimidating another person. The draft Code says, “The MPs shall disclose sufficient information regarding their business relationships and financial interests including information about close family members. This would increase the public trust in MPs.”
Meanwhile, the changes to the Standing Orders (SO) reflects any of the technological developments over the years and provide for the live telecast of Parliament proceedings as well as electronic voting. It will also enhance powers to the Speaker to deal with errant lawmakers.
According to the new draft of the SO, a MP who makes contact with the Mace or lefts the Mace while it is kept within the presidents of the House will be deemed to have committed a ‘grave disorder’ and will face suspension of eight weeks while the Speaker will have the authority to immediately suspend live telecast or broadcast of proceedings in case of members acting in contravention of SO.
The amended SO provide for the setting up of the Sectoral Oversight Committees as provided for by the 19th Amendment to the Constitution as well as the setting up of several committees including separate Committees on Ethics and Privileges, Constitutional Affairs, Liaison and backbencher committee.
The ten-member Ethics and Privileges Committee will be tasked with examining breaches of rules of conduct an etiquette by MPs and reporting to Parliament while the backbencher committee which will be tasked with determine the business to be taken up on days allocated for ‘Backbencher Business’.