Maintain decorum, Speaker tells MPs

Irangika RANGE, Sandasen MARASINGHE and Disna MUDALIGE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday ordered MPs not to use unparliamentary language and abstain from character assassination during Parliamentary debates.

He said all MPs must take into account the fact they are bound by the Standing Orders and guidelines outlined there when making statements inside the Chamber. They have to be exemplary in their use of words and must desist from character vilification and slander, he said.

He reminded the MPs that there were schoolchildren in the Parliament Galleries and the lawmakers must abide by the limits imposed on them by the Standing Orders to maintain the decorum in the House.

Speaker Rajapaksa gave this warning before the commencement of yesterday’s Budget debate.