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ST pic of PM, House Leader dozing during Budget speech discussed
View(s):A picture published in the Sunday Times of October 26, showing Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne and Leader of the House, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva dozing, while President Mahinda Rajapaksa delivered his Budget speech, came in for discussion in Parliament yesterday.
UNP MP Ajith P. Perera raised the issue during his speech on the votes of the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs, saying that Minister De Silva who chose to sleep when the President delivered his Budget speech, had taken it upon himself to say that the position of the Government and the UNP on the Executive Presidency is the same.
“How can he talk about the UNP’s stance on an issue, when he does not pay attention to an important speech being made in the House,” he asked.
When UPFA National List MP A.H.M. Azwer intervened to say that pictures can be doctored to mislead people, MP Ajith Perera said that the picture appeared in the Sunday Times of October 26, adding that the Sunday Times is a trusted and respected paper.
Minister John Seveviratne said it is unfair to comment on such matters. “There are so many instances we have observed where MPs have fallen asleep here,” he said. Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody said that this applies to all MPs, both in Government and in the Opposition, who fall asleep in the Chambers while proceedings are on.