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| Friday, 11 June 2004 |
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| Members of Sangha were never assaulted in Parliament - Jeevan by Hemasiri Dheeraratne Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga said the honourable members of the Sangha were never assaulted in Parliament on Monday as claimed by some interested parties. Minister Kumaratunga who dismissed charges that the bhikkhus were assaulted as utter falsehood, said however he wished to apologise to the honourable members of the Sangha if the incident in Parliament had caused them any pain of mind. Explaining Monday's incident in detail, Minister Kumaratunga said Ven. Akmeemana Dayaratana Thera arrived in Parliament to take his oaths as an MP. But by then Court had already issued a stay order preventing him from taking oaths to fill the vacancy created by the resignation. The Court Order was not a secret order. It had been delivered in the presence of both parties concerned. The Court Order had explicitly prevented him from taking oaths and sitting as an MP. Minister Kumaratunga said since Ven. Dayaratana came to take oaths ignoring this order what they only tried to do was to prevent him from taking oaths. "When Courts have made a stay order we do not approve of anyone trying to belittle and defame Court. Moreover we don't expect such action from an honourable member of the Sangha." Minister Kumaratunga said a case is pending against S.B. Dissanayake too for alleged defamation of Court during a speech made at a meeting in Habaraduwa. Such type of action is abhorred by the public. However as responsible people it is improper on the part of honourable members of the Sangha to set such an example to the country. Minister Kumaratunga further said even Minister Fernandopulle explained this matter to the Speaker. As the country's third important citizen the Speaker had a duty to consider all matters in detail but he acted in a partisan manner. "If anyone can break Court Orders we too have a right to prevent actions which disregard and disrespect Court Orders. So what we only did was to prevent the honourable member of the Sangha from taking oaths. The Sergeant-at-Arms also intervened to restore calm. There was only a little pushing about but none was assaulted. The charge of assault has been made deliberately by opponents of the government." Minister Kumaratunga said the entire episode was video filmed by a private electronic media institution and two cameras of the Parliament. No Minister or MP was involved in any assault. There was only a situation of turmoil for which the Hon. Speaker and the Jathika Hela Urumaya should take full responsibility. It is evident that after committing a grave wrong by breaking a Court Order a mud slinging campaign has been launched by highlighting a non-existent religious rivalry. Minister Kumaratunga alleged that the two Bhikkhus had entered hospital on the advice of Ravi Karunanayake. |
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