PARLIAMENT

House adjourned amid disruption

Sandasen Marasinghe and Disna Mudalige

Parliament was adjourned yesterday at 2.35 pm after a commotion when a few opposition members flocked near the mace placed on the brackets below the Speaker’s table. Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said he would adjourn Parliament if MPs don’t allow him to continue with the orders of the day. He adjourned Parliament as the members remained on the well of the House in front of the Speaker’s table shouting aloud.

The commotion erupted when Opposition members requested to allot today (Wednesday) for a full day debate on the revision of the electricity tariffs. The Chief Opposition Whip John Amarathunga requested the government side to hold a full day debate on the electricity tariffs. Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva stated that it should be decided at the Party Leaders’ meeting. He said the matter can be decided at the Party Leaders’ meeting that would be held today (Wednesday). The Speaker said when the matter was raised accordingly, the date could be fixed for the debate. UNP MPs Dayasiri Jayasekera, Ajith P Perera, Ravi Karunanayake and Akila Viraj Kariyawasam flocked round the mace and started to shout. Government members remained in their seats while the Deputy Sergeant-at-arms stood beside the mace ready to face any eventuality.

The Speaker adjourned Parliament until 1 pm today.

The disruptive situation erupted after Power and Energy Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi made her reply speech to a special statement made by Chief Opposition Whip John Amarathunga under standing order 23 (2) on the electricity tariff revision. John Amarathunga wound up his statement requesting a full day debate on the electricity tariff revision.

Parliament met yesterday at 1 pm presided over by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, Chief Opposition Whip John Amarathunga made his special statement under standing order 23 (2).