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JVP taunts TNA as time row splits opposition
By Chandani Kirinde, Our Lobby Corespondent
The much awaited Supreme Court determination on the 18th and 19th Amendments to the constitution were finally announced by Speaker Joseph Michael Perera in Parliament on Tuesday. But it was a dispute over time allocations for speakers among opposition parties that drew the attention of all, culminating with several members of TNA staging a walk out.

The reaction to the Speaker's announcement, much of which had already been made public, was somewhat subdued - being greeted with a little jeering by members of the opposition but drawing no response from the government members.

But an unexpected row between members of the opposition as a result of an adjournment question raised by the JVP parliamentarian Sunil Handunnetti on the prevailing situation in the east helped liven up the dreary proceedings.

The government and the opposition are each allocated half an hour to speak during an adjournment debate but the problem arose as no time had been allocated by the chief opposition whip for any of the TNA members to speak. Their half an hour had been divided between two JVP members and one PA member.

Senior parliamentarian R.Sampanthan raised the matter saying that as they sit in the opposition, they should be allocated time by that side. It was more significant as the matter raised concerned the eastern province, the area that Mr.Sampanthan and several of his colleagues represent.

However, the JVP MPs argued that they were not required to give time to speakers who would not speak in support of their motion and that Mr. Sampanthan had not requested for time to speak.

This led to fierce exchange of words between the members of the TNA and the JVP-PA with government members intervening in support of the TNA.

Chief Government Whip Mahinda Samarasinghe tried to bring the matter to the attention of the Deputy Chairman of Committee Siri Andrahennady who was presiding at the time.

"The TNA represents a group of 15 MPs. They should be allowed to speak. Mr.Sampanthan's parliamentary privileges have been violated," charged Mr. Samarasinghe. He went on to say the government was prepared to offer 10 minutes of its time to the TNA.

JVP leader Wimal Weerawansa who seconded the adjournment motion used the occasion to accuse the government of treachery, cowardice and being a part of an international conspiracy to divide the country.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who was not present in the chambers was singled out for some of the harshest criticisms by Mr. Weerawansa who compared the Premier to Don Juan Dharmapala - a 15th century ruler who stayed on in power by conniving with the Portuguese invaders.

But it was Mr. Sampanthan who had the final say stating that the opposition lacked the courage and conviction to give time to members sitting on the same side as them as they held a different point of view.

"Our time in the House does not depend on the charity of anyone. As a mark of protest against the down right hypocrisy shown by the opposition, we are walking out," Mr.Sampant-han said before he and six of his colleagues walked out.

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