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| Thursday, 9 December 2004 |
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| UNP's Maheswaran snatches the mace in the chaos : UNP runs amok in Parliament by our Parliamentary Correspondents
There was chaos in Parliament yesterday as UNP MPs ran amok as they demonstrated violently demanding the suspension of Parliament until former MP and Minister S. B. Dissanayake was released from jail and allowed to continue as an MP. One of the demonstrators, T. Maheswaran who has been running riot during the last few days, supported by his fellow MPs ran away with the Mace, which is the symbol of the Speaker's authority. Four Parliament aides who were caught up in the melee who sustained injuries were being treated in hospital. On Tuesday, Maheswaran threw a saucer and a glass in the direction of the Speaker's podium which hit the stand on which the Mace rested, splintering the glass and saucer to bits.
Meanwhile, the Government MPs remained in their benches, while the UNPers were performing their antics, some sitting in the Well of the Chamber, some prancing around. The uproar was sparked by former Fisheries Minister Mahinda Wijesekera making a special statement appealing to the President to pardon Dissanayake who was sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment on Tuesday by a five judge Bench of the Supreme Court for contempt of court. In terms of Article 89 and 91 of the Constitution any person jailed for more than six months is banned to sit or vote in Parliament in addition to having his civic rights denied for seven years. "We appeal to the President to give a pardon to S. B. Dissanayake. I am making this appeal on behalf of Dissanayake's family," he said. "We have no hatred towards the President. She is the leader of this country and she has the powers to give a pardon to Dissanayake," he added. Wijesekera requested the Speaker to suspend sittings until Dissanayake returns to the House. In his statement, Wijesekera stressed that everyone should have the right to express their view. "We all should have the freedom to express our views", he said. After Wijesekera finished the statement, Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara said he would study the matter before giving a ruling. "I will have to consult the Attorney General too," he said. At this moment, UNP MPs launched a protest demanding the Speaker to suspend the sittings. They came to the well of the House. Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and Leader of the House Maithripala Sirisena were seen signalling the Government MPs not to get involved in this incident. The Government members remained in their seats. In the ensuing commotion, the Speaker suspended sittings for 15 minutes. After the sittings were suspended, the Opposition and Government MPs were seen engaged in cordial discussions in the Well of the House. The sittings which was suspended at 10.10 a.m. commenced again at 11.15 a.m. As soon as the sittings commenced, UNP MPs were demanding the Speaker to suspend the sittings until Dissanayake was allowed to come to Parliament. This time, they launched a strong protest and some members walked towards the stand where the Mace was placed. Then a group of UNP MPs including T. Maheshwaran, Indika Bandaranaike, Ranga Bandara, Dayasiri Jayasekera and Sagala Ratnayake tried to grab the Mace. Serjeant at Arms Wijaya Palliyaguruge his Deputy Anil Samarasekera and Assistant Sergeant at Arms Narendra Fernando were seen making every possible effort to prevent the UNP MPs. During this melee one table lamp installed on the MP's table in the opposition side was damaged. UNP MPs succeeded and Maheswaran was seen running with the Mace. Pandemonium erupted in the House with this incident. Before the Mace was forcibly taken away, the Speaker had announced that the sittings were suspended. This time, there was an uproar in the House and members from both sides were seen and heard trading abuses at each other. UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekera was seen running towards the Government site challenging a UPFA MP. However, he was grabbed by other UNP members and taken to another side. While some UNP MPs and Government members were trading abuses at each other, some other members from both sides were engaged in a cordial discussion. While the House was in recess, two employees came to the Well of the House and replaced the broken table lamp. The sittings commenced again at 1.00 p.m. and the Speaker suspended sittings till 2.30 p.m. **** Passed without vote Amidst the uproar in House the expenditure heads under several Ministries listed for debate yesterday were passed without a vote. They are the Ministries of Power and Energy, Agriculture and Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, Mahaweli, Rajarata and River Basin Development and Environment and Natural Resources. |
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