Govt, Opposition work in unison amid TNA din

Pramod de Silva and Manjula Fernando

KOTTE: The Government and the main Opposition yesterday conducted the main business in Parliament despite the uproar created in the Chamber by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentary group over the Supreme Court verdict that the merger of the Northern and Eastern Province was illegal.

Nine ordinances and Bills were passed without a debate although the TNA group disturbed the proceedings with their cacophony directed mainly at the Speaker. The TNA MPs who marched in a procession towards the Speaker's Chair tried to block the mace being

brought into the Chamber, which would have prevented the House from conducting the day's sittings.

Sergeant at Arms Anil Parakrama Samarasekera then brought in the mace from a side entrance while Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara entered the Chamber from the Speaker's Entrance.

The proceedings then began with the mace in place. The TNA group continued with their protest act, verbally abusing the Speaker and shouting slogans against the Court ruling. Deputy Ministers Jagath Pushpakumara and Mervin Silva prevented TNA MP Swrajilingam from trying to get at the Speaker's Chair.

The presentation of oral questions and other documents and reports took place amidst the din.

The answers to oral questions were tabled by the ministers. The main business of the day was scheduled to be the Banking (Amendment) Bill. The UNP and the JVP requested a debate on the Bill and the Speaker suspended sittings at 9.45 a.m. for 10 minutes for the party leaders to decide on this matter.

Subsequently, the Speaker informed the House that the party leaders had decided to debate the Bill on a future date.

The House was adjourned for day after the Bills were passed.