Columns

Mahinda Rajapaksa may no longer be the all-powerful President of the country, but his ‘troops’ in the form of the “Joint Opposition” (JO) in Parliament, this week, once again showed how passionate they are when it comes to defending him. The latest showdown with the Government, which resulted in fisticuffs between two groups of MPs, took place over the decision to replace the army security detail of the former president with police personnel, a move fiercely opposed by his loyalists.
The news that Mr Rajapaksa’s security has been changed, broke just as Parliament sittings were starting after a three-week recess for the April new year, and provided ideal fodder for the JO group to assert its role in the House.

The joint opposition's latest showdown with the Government resulted in fisticuffs between two groups of MPs

JO leader, Colombo District MP Dinesh Gunawardena raised the matter with Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe, who explained that it was the Police that provided security to President Maithripala Sirisena, as well as himself and hence, the former President too would be well protected by the Police. “None of us want any harm to come to President Rajapaksa. If he wants additional personnel, we will increase the number,” Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said.

While the reply seemed adequate in relation to the question raised by Mr Gunawardena, it was the PM’s move to call upon Minister of Regional Development, Field Marshal (FM) Sarath Fonseka to explain the nitty gritty of VVIP security, that triggered the uproar from the opposition benches.

With FM Fonseka on his feet, the JO numbering over 40 MPs first tried to shout him down while standing near their allocated seats, and later moved to the Well of the House in a bid to stop him speaking.

They also directed their anger at Speaker Karu Jayasuirya, demanding he put an end to FM Fonseka’s speech. However, amidst the shouting, neither the Speaker nor the FM’s voices were audible. Things came to a head when UNP Kalutara District MP Palitha Thevarapperuma who, ironically, is also the Deputy Minister of Cultural Affairs, punched UPFA Gampaha District MP Prasanna Ranaweera, who had been boisterously trying to shout down FM Fonseka.

What followed were fisticuffs among several MPs with UNP Kegalle District MP Sandeeth Samarasinghe requiring hospitalisation as a result. This also forced the Speaker to suspended sittings. The next day, MPs Thevarapperuma and Ranaweera were suspended for a week for their ‘conduct unbecoming’, as disciplinary action recommended by a Committee comprising Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala and Deputy Chairman of Committees Selvam Addaikalanathan. While the report on the incident made a fleeting reference to what triggered the incident, it is pertinent to ask why FM Fonseka, one of former President Rajapaksa’s main nemesis, was asked to speak on matters relating to the latter’s security, given the volatility of the situation in the House over the issue? Also, much of his speech was directed more at settling old scores with the Rajapaksas, than giving a proper analysis of what entails VVIP security.

Another pertinent question that needs to be asked is why the former President, now Kurunegala District MP, time and again, allows the JO to take up his case from the floor of the House, while staying away from the Legislature, apparently, to avoid direct confrontation with the Government, when the former President’s Parliamentary privileges entitles him to raise such matters himself.

At a time when lawmakers have been entrusted with the task of drafting a new Constitution for the country, and are being given added responsibility through newly set up sectoral oversight committees, this week’s ugly scenes in Parliament raises serious questions about the calibre of persons that political parties choose to give nominations to contest elections, as well as how informed voters are about those who choose to represent them in the highest elected body in the country.

And while the finger-pointing as to which side should be held responsible for the unruly scenes that took place in the Well of the House on Tuesday will continue, no doubt, the decision to release CCTV footage of the brawl, exposed the errant legislators to the public as never before. But will they learn from their mistakes, knowing they are going to be subject to public scrutiny like none of their predecessors in previous Parliaments have been? With the weeks ahead likely to get even more intense, whether a repetition of such behaviour is on the cards or not only time will tell.