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Sri Lanka's Jailing of Opposition Lawmaker Sparks Uproar  - 2004-12-08


The Sri Lankan Supreme Court's jailing of leading opposition lawmaker S.B. Dissanayake for defaming judges has sparked an uproar in parliament.

Parliament sessions were suspended twice on Wednesday after opposition lawmakers protested a decision not to allow him to attend the meeting. Leading opposition legislator Mahinda Wijesekera said there is no law stopping Dissanayake from taking part in the session.

Dissanayake, a legislator from the main opposition United National Party, was convicted Tuesday of defaming Supreme Court judges during a speech he gave last year. He was sentenced to two years in prison.

Mr. Wijesekera has requested a presidential pardon for Dissanayake, who cannot appeal the Supreme Court verdict.

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