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Speaker appoints 11-man clash probe committee

09 Dec 2021

 
  • Chaired by Dep. Speaker Ranjith Siyambalapitiya
  • SJB ends Parliament boycott
  BY Buddhika Samaraweera Speaker of Parliament, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has appointed a 11-member committee to look into the alleged attempt of a group of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Government Parliamentarians to attack a Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Opposition MP during the parliamentary sessions held last week, and to recommend measures to be taken to prevent such incidents from recurring. Abeywardena yesterday (8) informed the Parliament of the said committee’s appointment. The committee is chaired by Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and the other members are Ministers Chamal Rajapaksa, Dr. Bandula Gunawardana, and Vasudeva Nanayakkara; State Minister Susil Premajayantha; Government MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa; and Opposition MPs Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Gayantha Karunatilleka, Rauff Hakeem, Vijitha Herath, and President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran. The Speaker further said that a group of SJB MPs have met him on Tuesday (7) and requested that their safety be ensured during the parliamentary sessions. Accordingly, Abeywardena said that he has taken all necessary steps to ensure the safety of all MPs as he is bound to do so. “I have already taken all necessary steps to provide security to all MPs. However, everyone must exercise restraint in Parliament in order to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. I also strongly emphasise the need to avoid impulsive and personal insults, especially when speaking,” noted the Speaker. Meanwhile, the SJB, which attended the parliamentary session yesterday after a three-day boycott over the incidents in question, warned that they would go before the Supreme Court (SC) if the Speaker does not issue an order on the incidents in addition to the aforesaid committee’s appointment. Speaking in Parliament, SJB MP and Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella said that if the Speaker does not issue an order regarding the incidents in addition to appointing the said committee, the SJB will have to go to the SC seeking justice. He said: “We don’t want these issues to be taken out of the Parliament. We are trying to resolve this issue within the Parliament itself. So you (Speaker) should make an order about this based on what you have seen on the days of the relevant incidents. If not, we will have to take this to the SC, albeit reluctantly, because chillie powder gangs cannot be allowed to destroy this Parliament as they did the last Parliament.” Further claiming that it is not clear as to what was expected from the appointment of the said committee, Kiriella said that they will, however, consider it as a good move. Even though the SJB would consider the committee’s appointment as a good move, he said that the Opposition’s main demand was that the Speaker issue an order based on what the latter witnessed. “Our main demand is that you make an order on what you saw then. You are the main witness to those incidents. But you did not make such an order and didn’t say as to what you saw, at the party leaders’ meeting either.” Kiriella alleged last weekend that a group of MPs of the ruling party had approached Manusha Nanayakkara on 3 December and attempted to assault the latter when he requested five extra minutes from the Speaker for his speech. He also claimed that ruling party MPs had again approached Nanayakkara on 4 December in the Opposition’s lobby following his (Nanayakkara) parliamentary address and attempted to assault him. However, the ruling party MPs, in response, accused Nanayakkara of making false allegations in the Parliament and called for an inquiry against him. Chief Government Whip and Minister Johnston Fernando on 4 December claimed that Nanayakkara ran to the Chair threatening the Speaker on 3 December, after the latter imposed a time limit for the debate in the Parliament. He said: “The closed circuit television (CCTV) footage of the incidents would provide evidence and prove the aggressive behaviour of Nanayakkara and how he turned violent after the Speaker ruled against additional time.” Alleging that Nanayakkara ran to the Speaker’s chair menacingly, Fernando said that it is their duty to protect the Speaker. “I went there to defend the Speaker. A MP has no right to threaten the Speaker or a presiding member. Some of those in the Opposition seem to think that they are the governing party in this Parliament when they make threats to and demands from the Speaker,” he said. Against this backdrop, Abeywardena on Monday (6) informed the Parliament that a committee will be appointed within the course of this week to look into the alleged attempt by a group of Government MPs to attack Nanayakkara.  


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