Be present in chamber, says Speaker

Sandasen Marasinghe, Irangika Range and Disna Mudalige

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday told ministers and deputy ministers to be present in the chamber and listen to the debate when their ministerial portfolios are taken up at the committee stage of Budget 2013.

He said even though 14 ministries were taken up for debate, only about three to four ministers holding ministerial portfolios were in the chamber.

The Speaker made this observation yesterday morning when UNP MP Tissa Attanayake was making the opening pseech.

The Speaker said this was a pathetic situation adding that if the relevant ministers and deputy mi8nisters are not listening, it is better to cancel the debate.