More
than they bargained for
All eyes were focussed on the first day of sittings of the new Parliament
but for the new entrants, what they experienced that day was more
than they had bargained for. They came clad in all their finery
along with their family members for the swearing-in as MPs but it
was not to be. Many of the visitors remained for an hour, two, and
some for three and then decided to leave. You can't expect that
much patience from anyone, including your family members, the newly
elected MPs soon found out.
A
tall order
It was a good thing that many visitors were absent when the MPs
actually took their oaths because it was not a pretty sight.
Coming
on the heels of the election of the Speaker, the Oath was administered
amidst angry exchanges between the two sides. Instead of reading
out their Oath of Alllegiance, many were seen pointing accusing
fingers at one another. Expecting them to fulfil that oath, which
many paid scant attention to, will certainly be a tall order.
Refreshing
his memory
With no suspension possible for lunch during Thursday's lengthy
Parliamentary session, many of the MPs were rushing to and from
the lunch room after grabbing a quick meal. A senior Muslim Minister
was among them. Before serving himself the mutton curry, he called
the waiter to inquire from him whether the meat was "halal."
"Yes," the waiter replied and also refreshed the member's
memory by adding that it was at the same place where the MP, now
Minister, has eaten many a time previously. A scribe waiting in
line to serve himself was amused by the exchange of words.
Taking
a cue?
JHU MP Omalpe Sobitha Thera queried from UNP leader Ranil
Wickremesinghe why his speech was in English when congratulating
the new Speaker when this was a country where the majority spoke
in Sinhala. His explanation was simple. When he spoke in English
he was less likely to be interrupted by his opposition parliamentary
colleagues. Maybe others will take a cue from the former Premier
and follow his example.
Language
problem
Language was weighing heavily on the minds of the members
of the TNA, 22 of who are in the new Parliament. When the Secretary
General read out the proclamation-summoning Parliament in Sinhala,
N.Sivajilingam, Jaffna district MP was quick to interrupt and ask
for the announcement to be read out in Tamil as well. He was politely
asked to listen to the Tamil translation, which was readily available.
But the language problem is likely to continue and either more Tamil
language interpreters or more Tamil-speaking officials would be
needed to cope with the growing demand. Otherwise it might be one
language - two Parliaments or two languages - one Parliament. |
