Jayalath Jayawardena MP’s conduct in UK:

Pandemonium in Parliament

Parliamentary Corr.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa adjourned Parliament for 10 minutes yesterday morning when pandemonium reigned as Government members flocked round UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardena alleging he joined an LTTE protest at the Heathrow Airport in London.

Chief Government Whip and Minister Dinesh Gunawardena making a special statement before the commencement of the orders of the day stated, UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardena in violation of the oaths taken under the Constitution, joined the banned outfit LTTE to protest against the Sri Lankan Government resulting in the cancellation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s address at the Oxford Union.

Minister Gunawardena suggested a special investigation should be conducted in this connection.

With Minister Dinesh Gunawardena’s statement, some Government members hurled accusations against UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardena. At this stage member Jayawardena stood to raise a point of order.

Minister Gunawardena accused Jayawardena of being an LTTE pawn and traitor.

MP Jayalath Jayawardena showing his passport to the Speaker said that he was in Italy on the day when the protest was held in London.

The member also requested to check his passport while the Government members were shouting slogans against Jayalath Jayawardena.

Suddenly Minister Dinesh Gunawardena stomped towards MP Jayalath Jayawardena in the front row where Opposition members sit.

At the same moment some Ministers, Deputy Ministers and members flocked around MP Jayawardena.

While Chief Opposition Whip John Amarathunga attempted to settle cool down the situation most of the UNP members were seen seated in their seats.

No sooner the Government members rushed towards UNP MP Jayawardena Sergeant at Arms Anil Parakrama Samarasekara, Deputy Sergeant at Arms, Narendra Fernando and Assistant Sergeant at Arms Kushan Jayaratne were seen attempting to settle the tense situation. Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Members including Jagath Pushpakumara, Jeewan Kumarathunga, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Keheliya Rambukwella, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Geethanjana Gunawardena, S B Navinna, Nirmala Kotalawala, Shantha Bandara, Lalith Dissanayake, A H M Azwer, Sehan Semasinghe, Sarath Weerasekara, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Udith Lokubandara shouted words of accusations while some were heard saying Jayawardena is a traitor, a murderer and a pawn of the LTTE. A Minister was seen grabbing MP Jayawardena with his collar. The Speaker at this stage ordered the House to be silent and behave.

Chief Opposition Whip John Amarathunga stating that Mahinda Rajapaksa is the President of both governing party and Opposition as well as of the country said he was very sorry of what has happened. UNP MPs Sajith Premadasa and John Amarathunga were attempting to settle the situation discussing the matter with the Government members.

The Speaker at this moment stated that the members should be patient and brought to the notice of the House. MP Jayalath Jayawardena said that he was not in England during the afore said days.

Meanwhile Parliamentarians Sajith Premadasa, Dayasiri Jayasekara and Buddhika Pathirana were referring the passport of Parliamentarian Jayalath Jayawardena.

The Speaker stated that he would adjourn the sittings if the members don’t allow to continue the orders of the day.

The Government members demanded that UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardena to leave the House. Due to the tense situation the Speaker adjourned the sittings for 10 minutes at 10.15 am.

The Government members remaining in the House after the adjournment urged Jayawardena to leave the House. A little while later MP Jayawardena left the House while Government members accused him of being a traitor, Tiger etc.

The House resumed again at 10.55 am chaired by the Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and the Committee Stage debate on the Appropriation Bill commenced.

Parliamentary sources said UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardena was assaulted after he left the House.