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Parliament went into yet another spasm of turmoil as members battled over a ruling by the Chair with fiery exchanges watched by a packed Gallery of school children reminiscent of the recent happenings in the House.

The eruption took place after PA MP Dinesh Gunawardena attempted to force a debate on the "security situation" in the North under "urgent" business and got 20 Opposition members to stand up in support of the motion as required by Standing Orders in such a situation.

The Government however objected to such a debate saying it had not received the motion in time. Chief Government Whip Mahinda Samarasinghe accused the opposition of trying to spring this debate on the government to score cheap political points.

"We are prepared to give you even three days for the debate. But we must have sufficient time to marshall our speakers. The motion was given to us only yesterday. When a motion is given to us at the eleventh hour how can prepare for a debate," he said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister A.H.M. Azwer said the MP had gone back on the agreement reached at the Party leaders' meeting where it was decided to take up Condolence votes on Wednesday.

The Deputy Chairman of Committees Siri Andrahennedhi ruled out the motion saying that although a debate was granted on the particular subject at the Party Leaders' meeting it was not fixed for yesterday.

There were heated protests from the Opposition and a spate of "points of Order" from both sides even while the Condolence Vote was being taken up. 

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