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Pandemonium in House

by Jayantha Sri Nissanka and Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

There was pandemonium in Parliament yesterday as JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa rose to make a statement on the second round of peace talks.

Government MPs opposed Weerawansa claiming that he had not notified the statement early to the Minister concerned.

Amidst the cacophony, Speaker Joseph Michael Perera had to suspend sittings on two occasions for five minutes and 15 minutes.

However, the Speaker allowed Weerawansa to make his statement as Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had given the green light to read it.

Chief Government Whip and Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told Parliament that the statement had not been handed over to the Minister concerned and the Prime Minister's office in time.

"The Prime Minister's office informed me just now that they had not received the statement but the Prime Minister is not against making the statement," the Minister added.

Leader of the House and Justice Minister W.J.M. Lokubandara said the JVP is trying to cover up their mistakes by making this kind of irrelevant statement.

While Weerawansa was making his statement, Minister of Hindu Affairs T. Maheshwaran was raising Points of Order that the Member was trying to arouse communal unrest while the country was moving towards a peaceful solution.

However, in the ensuing commotion Speaker Joshep Michael Perera ordered both Minister Maheshwaran and UNP MP Olitha Premaratne to leave the Chamber. 

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