Praise for MP Basil Rajapaksa's conduct

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Speaker W.J.M.Lokubandara told Parliament yesterday that he appreciated the humble conduct of MP Basil Rajapaksa in Parliament yesterday though a number of privilege issues were raised against him by the Opposition.

The Speaker made this observation when JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissananyaka, JVP MP Sunil Hadunneththi and UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara raised privilege issues against Rajapaksa whom they said threatened them at the COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) meetings.

"We should be very responsible, once we engage in work of this House," he said. If any one's privilege has been breached, necessary action will be taken. The Speaker appreciated his good behavior. We all should acts to prevent the occurrence of these incidents.

JVP MP Dissanayaka raising the privilege issue said that his privilege has been breached due to threats by Rajapaksa at the COPE.

Minister of Water Supply Mahinda Amaraweera and Nation Building Minister Jagath Pushpakumara raising privilege issues said that JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka has violated their privileges at the COPE.

Power Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that both the Government and the Opposition made complaints regarding the threats.

"As a member of this committee I have a complaint. Several JVP members used derogatory terms to address State officials.

JVP MP Dissanayaka said the JVP members never did that.