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Brawl in Parliament: SJB MPs walk out, demand security
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs walked out of the Parliament chambers yesterday, claiming that their security within the House was threatened after a confrontation between Galle District SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara and several Government MPs outside the Parliament chambers on the Opposition side.
The confrontation occurred after the SJB MP had just concluded a speech where he exchanged angry words with some Government MPs.
In Parliament last afternoon, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella announced that SJB members would no longer attend Parliament unless their security was guaranteed. “If someone made an allegation against someone else in Parliament, then that allegation has to be answered. That is why we are here. If we are going to fight each other over what’s being said here, there is no point in coming to Parliament,” Mr Kiriella said, before he and other SJB MPs walked out.
Kurunegala District SJB MP J.C. Alawathuwala told the Sunday Times that Mr Nanayakkara had been accosted outside the chambers by a group of up of up to 20 Government MPs who had become furious over the speech he had just made. “A group led by State Minister Kanchana Wijesekara and (Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna) MP Sanjeewa Edirimanna tried to attack Mr Nanayakkara. No blows were struck and Mr Nanayakkara was safely evacuated, but it raises serious concerns over the safety of our MPs in the House.”
Mr Alawathuwala stressed that physical violence had no place in Parliament. “There are ways when dealing with objectionable references in Parliamentary speeches. Standing Orders allow for that, with provisions being there to strike off offending references from the Hansard. Resorting to fisticuffs over such a thing instead of following due Parliamentary procedure is unacceptable.”
SJB MPs are due to meet Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena tomorrow. Mr Alawathuwala said a decision on whether to continue boycotting Parliamentary proceedings would be taken depending on the outcome of this meeting.
Tensions between Mr Nanayakkara and Government MPs had been brewing since Friday, when he was involved in another confrontation with some MPs after the Government objected to giving him an additional five minutes to conclude his speech. In his speech yesterday, Mr Nanayakkara made references to State Minister Kanchana Wijesekara with regard to an alleged corrupt deal to release two container loads of fish.
State Minister Wijesekara hit back, accusing the SJB MP of attempting to mislead Parliament and the public by making accusations that were blatantly false. He challenged Mr Nanayakkara to make the accusations publicly outside where his comments are not protected by Parliamentary privilege.
Government MPs also alleged that Mr Nanayakkara had insulted State Minister Wijesekara’s father in his speech.
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