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Lead by example
During the course of an adjournment debate in Parliament on Friday on the drought prevailing in the country, a JHU Colombo district MP Kotapola Amarakiththi Thera suggested that all legislators contribute half of their monthly salary in aid of the victims of the unfavourable weather conditions. He had the support of two Deputy Ministers namely Mahinda Amaraweera and Duminda Dissanayake but there were a few others who did not seem to want to commit themselves. Maybe more of them should listen to what Mr. Dissanayake had to say - that it was time for the parliamentarians to lead by example by making the first sacrifice.

Boomerang effect
The UNP MPs in Parliament are the ones asking oral questions from Government ministers now that they are out of power but many of their queries seem to be boomeranging on them causing more embarrassment to them than to the government side.

When the former Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayke asked a question from the present Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle on the cost of living, Mr.Karunanayake received a earful on the selling of Sathosa to the private sector and the inconvenience it was causing to the present government. The rumpus caused another UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa to suggest that the government allocate a whole day to debate the Sathosa issue, which was promptly agreed to by Mr.Fernandopulle.

Another question from UNP Matale district MP Ranjith Aluvihare to Labour Minister Athauda Seneviratne regarding the vehicle assigned to him also lead to a similar situation.

After answering the question, the Minister went on to give details of the two vehicles hired for use by the former Labour Minister, one at Rs. 230, 000 per month and the other at Rs. 270,000 per month. The answer raised quite a few eyebrows and more disquiet among the UNP ranks than that of the Government.

Coming events?
There was a bit of a mix-up by a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.K. Eelaventhan who was seen sitting on the government side, by h is colleagues. When asked what he was doing there, the MP looked alarmed and said he had sat there by mistake.

But with rumours of his visits to Temple Trees and close contacts with those on the government side, this may be a sign of things to come.

Special status for one only
There are also some other tensions in the TNA ranks.
This time it is regarding the STF security given to TNA national list MP Joseph Pararajasingham who contested the last general election from Batticaloa and lost and was subsequently appointed to Parliament.

Another MP S. Jayanandamoorthy who is also a classmate of LTTE breakaway leader Karuna says there are many of his other colleagues including himself who are more deserving of such protection but are not getting it. Mr. Pararajasingham's special status is said to be because of his relationship to a top cop.

Not to our high standards!
There were two Sri Lankan-Canadians who came to take a look at the local legislature last week. The man was in a pair of shorts and the girl in a short skirt and a low-cut neck top. They were not allowed into the gallery as their clothes were seen as offending accepted norms. Who would want to upset the high standards that have been set by our legislators?

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