Basil Rajapaksa sworn-in as MP

Uditha Kumarasinghe Rajmi Manatunga and Irangika Range

KOTTE: Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara was yesterday forced to suspend sitting for 10 minutes amidst the pandemonium created by the UNP Opposition during the swearing-in of Basil Rajapaksa as an UPFA MP.

Placard waving UNPers created an uproar during the oath taking while the Government criticised the conduct of their Opposition colleagues at a special occasion such as the swearing-in of a new MP.

Amidst the disturbances of the UNP, Rajapaksa took his oaths and sat in the seat reserved for him.

However, Government members continuously criticised the UNP’s move which interrupted the newly-appointed MP taking oaths.

Chief Government Whip Minister Jeyaraj Feranandopulle said this is the first time in the history of Parliament that such behaviour was witnessed during the oath taking of a new MP.

Finally, the Speaker adjourned House for 10 minutes following heated exchanges between Government and UNP MPs.

After the House was adjourned, a group of Government MPs came to the Opposition side and tore placard displayed on the front roar of UNP MPs and threw the bits into the middle of the Chamber.

When House resumed, Labour Minister Mervyn Silva stomped towards the Opposition condemning the UNP’s move.

A group of Government Ministers led the Minister to back to his seat.

Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara said he condemned the incident in the House insulting Parliamentary traditions. The Speaker regretted the incident which occurred at an important occasion.

The Speaker observed that Parliament has breached to a very low level where MPs even attempt to snatch the agenda from the Speaker.

“Therefore, I request party leaders of the Government and the Opposition to safeguard the dignity and decorum of the House,” he said.