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| Wednesday, 24 November 2004 |
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| UNP titans clash in Parliament UNP stalwarts Mahinda Samarasinghe and Rajitha Senaratne almost came to blows in the Chamber of Parliament yesterday following a disagreement stemming from the on going dispute in the current controversy in connection with the eight hour work shift affecting public servants. The fracas broke out just as Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama finished replying a query raised by Chief Opposition Whip Mahinda Samarasinghe. Amunugam said the Government had no intention of extending the 8 hour work shift of public servant by law and that the option lay with the workers to do to voluntarily. Samarasinghe wanted the Minister's clarification in view of confusing statements over the issue as well as due to the fact Sri Lanka was a signatory to a number of international conventions dealing with the work-hours of employees. Rajitha Senaratne was furious over the fact that Samarasinghe his Kalutara District UNP colleague had spoilt the party for Senaratne who was due to lead a protest demonstration against the purported extension of the 8 hour work shift by the Government. Amunugama's reply assuring there would be no extension of the 8 hour work day clearly took the micky out of Senaratne's plans for a grand show of strength on the streets of Colombo today. Hot words were exchanged between the two senior UNPers even before Amunugama could take his seat with even Ranjith Aluvihare drawing fire from a visibly enraged Senaratne. "You destroyed our plans, our whole strategy is now gone" Senaratne was heard to say over the rumpus. The JVP's S. K. Subasinghe added a touch of humour when he requested the Speaker to protect the Chief Opposition Whip from his UNP colleague. Meanwhile, this did not end there, according Parliamentary sources, for Rajitha Senaratne left the Chamber in high dudgeon slap bang into UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and berated him for producing weak budgets, and lavished praised on the UPFA budget. |
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