News
Debate on CJ issue in Parliament tomorrow
Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa has taken the unusual step of convening Parliament tomorrow by a special Gazette notification, two days ahead of the scheduled date, on a request by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Parliament was to meet on February 5 after the conclusion of this year’s Independence Day celebrations but due to the demand by several opposition legislators for an earlier date to debate the removal of Mohan Peiris and reinstatement of Shirani Bandaranayake as Chief Justice, the House will meet tomorrow at 2 p.m.
The Speaker has issued the notification under Standing Order No. 14 which enables him to convene the House if so requested by the Prime Minister.Parliament sittings were thrown into disorder on Friday after several opposition members demanded that they be allowed to debate the Prime Minister’s statement on the removal of Mohan Peiris as Chief Justice. The Government, while agreeing to a debate, had said the earliest possible date was February 5 as several roads leading to Parliament were being closed in the coming days for Independence Day celebration rehearsals.
The Speaker had to adjourn the House abruptly on Friday due to the strong disagreement that arose on a date for this debate. Due to this reason, the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Amendment) Bill which the Government wanted approved urgently by Parliament, too, could not be taken up for debate. It is likely to be passed tomorrow after the debate on the Prime Minister‘s statement.