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Speaker Joseph Michael Perera on Saturday observed that a statement made by the Chief Opposition Whip was an insult to both him and party leaders who took a unanimous decision to hold the Committee Stage debate despite the Opposition's failure to hand over the necessary amendments.

He was referring to a news item appearing in a Sinhala newspaper on Saturday where the Chief Opposition Whip Mangala Samaraweera has been quoted as saying that although he had duly handed over the amendments, a Parliament official had misplaced them.

The Speaker reiterated that the Opposition had not handed over the necessary amendments regarding the Committee Stage by 5.50 pm on Thursday (14) by the end of the Second Reading of the budget debate.

Further explaining the incident, the Speaker said no official of Parliament had received these amendments but he took steps to resolve the matter at the party leaders meeting. "All party leaders discussed the matter and agreed to settle it amicably."

There was an uproar in Parliament last Thursday evening when Chief Government Whip Mahinda Samarasinghe told the Speaker that the amendments in respect of committee stage debates have to be handed over on or before November 9 as announced by the Speaker but the Opposition has not done so.

Later, Minister Samarasinghe told the 'Daily News' this is possibly the first time in the history of the Sri Lankan Parliament that such a lapse had occurred.

At the committee stage, a debate is held on each Ministry where the Opposition members get the opportunity to criticise the work and achievements of the Ministries.

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