Wimal granted extra time through vote
Sandasen Marasinghe, Irangika Range and Disna
Mudalige
Parliament yesterday decided to grant an additional 10 minutes to
Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities
Minister Wimal Weerawansa to make his reply speech.
The decision was taken after a division in which 42 voted in favour
and 18 against. The additional time was provided from the 30 minutes
allocated for the lunch break.
Minister Weerawansa’s speech was continuously interrupted by
Opposition members.
Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh
Gunawardena asked the approval of the House to grant an additional 10
minutes to Weerawansa by extending the morning sessions by another 10
minutes without adjourning sittings at 12.30pm for the lunch break.
Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu who presided said
the consent of both sides of the House was needed to go ahead with the
proposal.
The opposition MPs disagreed to the proposal. Thereafter the Chair
decided to go for a division and the proposal was approved with a
majority of 24 votes.
Minister Weerawansa then winded up his reply speech making use of the
additional time.
The House took up the Finance Head of the Construction, Engineering
Services, Housing and Common Amenities Ministry during the morning
sessions yesterday at the Committee stage debate. Opposition MPs
continuously disturbed the minister when he stood up to make the reply
speech before the lunch break.
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