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| Thursday, 2 December 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Express views without violating constitution, says Jeyaraj by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi and Ranil Wijayapala The Government was not contesting the rights of Tamil MPs to express their views in Parliament but this should be done without violating the constitution, Chief Government Whip Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle told Parliament yesterday. Fernandopulle made his remarks after Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara announced that he had ordered to expunge certain portions of the speech made by TNA MP R. Sampanthan in the House. The Speaker was responding to a statement by JHU MP, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera who questioned as to how a Member of Parliament could violate the Constitution when the MPs themselves have taken an oath to safeguard the Constitution. "According to the Constitution, Members of Parliament are not allowed to support or speak in support of a separate state. If they are doing so, they are violating the constitution," Ven. Rathana Thera said referring to TNA MP R. Sampanthan's previous day's speech. "I went through Mr. Sampanthan's speech and I have ordered to expunge any parts if they are violating the constitution. At the same time, we must pay our attention to amend the standing orders in this regards," the Speaker said. Chef opposition Whip and UNP MP Mahinda Samarasinghe said every member is bound to uphold the constitution. "Let's discuss about this. We all can join together to amend the standing orders," he said. At this point, TNA MP Suresh Premachandran said Tamil MPs are making efforts to bring together a country which had been already divided into two states. "But, you are trying to close our mouth and prevent expressing our views here. By doing so, you are encouraging us to go for separation," he said. Fernandopulle said the Government is not against the rights of Tamil MPs to express their views. "But everyone has to safeguard and work according to the constitution." Ven. Rathana Thera said JHU MPs never disturb TNA MPs. "But TNA member as a group are disturbing us when we are addressing Parliament. "More over, today Sinhalese have been deprived of their right to live in Northern area," the thera said. |
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