Untitled Document

Blame game reverberates in House
By our Lobby Correspondent
Chandani Kirinde Although the anticipated vote of confidence on the government which was scheduled for debate on Thursday was postponed, the spillover from the previous weeks unruly behaviour in the Parliament gallery continued to reverberate within the Chambers with the two sides blaming each other for what happened.

At one point, Speaker Joseph Michael Perera had to adjourn proceedings for five minutes after an opposition MP defied his orders and accused the speaker of showing bias towards the government side as a heated exchange of words took place between them.

And even though the Speaker announced at the start of business on Tuesday that the Acting Secretary General of Parliament Priyani Wijesekera would conduct an inquiry into the incidents that took place when a no-confidence motion was debated against Interior Minister John Amaratunga, several opposition MPs including Mahinda Rajapakse made statements regarding the matter.

Mr.Rajapakse said this was the first time in Parliamentary history this kind of unruly behaviour had taken place with visitors to the gallery whistling, clapping, throwing things at MPs seated below and abusing them.

He alleged that the incident was caused by the supporters of Mr.Amaratunga.

However, Mr.Amarataunga who spoke after Mr.Rajapakse charged that it was a conspiracy against him and the government. "I saw some opposition supporters who I recognized and I feel this was a planned thing to slander me," he alleged showing a piece of paper which he said contained the names of all those who were in the gallery on the day of the incident.

This prompted PA member Jeyaraj Fernandopulle to cast doubts on whether an impartial inquiry would be held into the matter. "If the Minister has got the list, it came from the office of the Secretary General who is conducting the inquiry and so we have no faith in it," he said.

This prompted the Speaker to state it was he who had given the list to Mr.Amaratunga as he had requested it.

"I will give the list to any MP who requests it. Then everyone can see whose visitors were in the gallery that day, " he said. Not all his explanations went down well with PA legislators who alleged they were threatened even on their way out of Parliament and the Police on duty at the gates had not reported the matter to the Speaker.

PA Polonnaruwa district MP Ananda Ratnayake whose voice is rarely heard in the Chambers on most days was visibly angry at the Speaker's explanations and defied his ruling to stay quiet and forced the suspension of sittings for five minutes.

Although it did earn Mr. Ratnayake his few minutes of fame, he returned a much calmer man to the Chambers once sessions resumed and apologized to the Speaker for his behaviour.

The Speaker warned that a dangerous trend was emerging and it needed to be stopped now. "One of these days, when the MPs vote here and go home, people will surround their homes and beat them up. They will be intimidated and will be prevented from doing their duty, he warned.

The Speaker however did not have the last word on the issue as another PA Parliamentarian Mahindananda Aluthgamage too raised the same issue alleging that a pen had been thrown at him from the gallery on that day and that he and several others were prevented from leaving Parliament by an unruly crowd that blocked their vehicle. A further row was created in Parliament on Wednesday when Parliamentary Affairs Minister A.H.M.Azwar informed the Speaker that the office of the President in the parliamentary complex had been used by MPs Mangala Samaraweera, Anuruddha Ratwatte and Wimal Weerawansa without the Speakers permission.

Although the Speaker said he had not been aware of the meeting that took place in the Presidents room, Chief Opposition Whip Mangala Samaraweera said he had obtained permission from the President to enter the room. The Speaker said he would decide whether they violated standing orders of Parliament by this act, after he studies the matter.
A matter of public interest came up for debate during the course of the adjournment motion by former Transport Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on the privatization of the Transport Board, but few addressed the real issues facing users of public transport and instead focussed on more mud raking. Members on both sides accused each other of owing thousands of rupees to the board as well as allegations that some others made millions in commissions by importing buses.

Defence, Transport and Highways Minister Tilak Marapana assured the House that the restructuring of bus companies will not in any way hamper the facilities afforded to commuters and there would be no job cuts.

Back to Columns