Parliament mayhem:
Dy minister gets one week’s suspension
*Speaker to appoint committee to recommend measures on Parliament
security
*Appeals to Members to abide by House rules
Sandasen MARASINGHE, Irangika RANGE and Disna
MUDALIGE
Petroleum Industries Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena was suspended
from attending Parliament for one week by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa
yesterday, after he was found to be the member who behaved in the most
disorderly manner during the presentation of the budget speech by
President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Sarana Gunawardena |
Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister and Leader of the
House Nimal Siripala de Silva moved the motion to suspend Gunawardena
from sittings in Parliament, after the Speaker’s announcement, where he
informed the Leader of the House to move the motion for suspension.
The Speaker then communicated his decision to suspend Deputy Minister
Gunawardena from sittings for one week beginning yesterday.
At the commencement of business, making a special announcement on the
incident during the presentation of the Budget Speech on November 21,
the Speaker said such incidents would blemish the dignity and decorum of
the House.
He added that such acts would cause public displeasure against
Parliament.
Speaker Rajapaksa also stated that such incidents would pose a threat
to the security of Parliament and its members.
He said therefore it was the duty of all to ensure there would be no
repetitions of such unfortunate incidents.
The Speaker said he and the Deputy Speaker had gone into the incident
and steps had to be taken to ensure there would be no repetitions of
such incidents, to preserve tradition in the House, ensure security of
Parliament and its members and maintain discipline in the House.
Speaker Rajapaksa also stated that according to their observation,
the root cause of the deplorable conduct was the interruption made by a
group of Opposition members to the Budget Speech, by exhibiting placards
and posters and shouting slogans.
The commotion was created when a group of government members
attempted to snatch the posters from Opposition members.
The Speaker also stated that he condemned the conduct of the MPs and
warned them not to conduct themselves in the House in a way that would
affect the dignity and decorum of Parliament and informed them to
protect the privileges and tradition of the House.
He also informed the Leader of the House to move a motion in
Parliament on a future date to suspend the Parliamentarian.
Gunawardena who behaved in a most disorderly manner out of the MPs
who were responsible for the commotion was penalised under Standing
Orders 72 (1) read with 74 (2).
The Speaker said it was brought to his notice where a few MPs had
brought through the members entrance certain unauthorized material after
resisting security checks which could pose a threat to the security of
Parliament. Speaker Rajapaksa also stated that they could not forget
those incidents which killed MP Keerthi Abeywickrema and caused severe
injuries to MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara.
The Speaker emphasized that if the members fail to be considerate and
cooperate by abiding with security measures in respect of the Members
and Parliament security, there is a strong possibility of a repetition
of such unfortunate incidents.
Speaker Rajapaksa stated that he would take measures to set up a
committee to forward recommendations needed to ensure the dignity and
decorum of Parliament, protect the traditions and discipline in the
House and ensure security in the House. |