Speaker to study UPFA MP’s statement after adjournment debate

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday told Parliament that he would study matters pertaining to a statement made by an MP after the conclusion of an adjournment debate on July 18. He said this when Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe raised a question with regard to the validity of the statement made by a UPFA MP at the conclusion of the adjournment debate.

UPFA MP A H M Azwer: What the Opposition said is of utmost importance. I was in the chair when this took place. According to the provisions of Section 138 of Standing Orders, the chair can give an order to allocate time to an MP. The matter that was taken was of national importance.

Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardene: The chair is the decision maker and the member presiding did not get up when the MP raised the matter. That means the MP has been allocated time to proceed. If an MP comes up with some matters of urgent importance the chair can permit it.

MP Lakshman Kiriella: Matters of national importance cannot be raised, after the debate of the adjournment motion is over.

Foreign Employment Promotion Minister Dilan Perera: The incident had taken place in Parliament.

Only Parliament can look into this matter. Ooutsiders cannot make questions in this regard.

TNA MP M A Sumanthiran: Only party or group leaders can raise matters pertaining to national importance.