Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne yesterday refused a request made by Pivithuru Hela Urumaya General Secretary and UPFA MP Udaya Gammanpila to attend Parliamentary sessions from today till Friday.

Gammanpila's lawyers made the request on his behalf.

The Magistrate directed that she had no authority to grant permission as per a circular from the Judicial Services Commission. The request should be made from the Superintendent of Prisons, the Magistrate also advised.

Gammanpila is in remand custody over allegedly using a fraudulent power of attorney to sell the assets of an Australian in 1997.