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Stepmotherly treatment
TNA National List MP M.K. Eelaventhan had a question to raise in Parliament on Friday regarding a "Vesak" greeting card sent to him by Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara.

The card was addressed to him and it was entirely in Sinhalese, he complained. "Was the Buddha a Sinhalese? Did he speak Sinhalese?" Mr. Eelavanthan wanted to know.

The real issue he wanted to address was why Tamil being an official language was still getting stepmotherly treatment even in official documents.

Probe threat immediately
This was only a Vesak card causing a stir but UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardena had a letter of a more serious nature. It was a threatening letter sent in his name to the Parliament address from the group named "Theraputtabaya" Force threatening him with death.

This is the same group, which claimed responsibly for killing journalist Dharmaretnam Sivaram, and which have sent threatening letters to several other media personnel. Mr. Jayawardena wanted the matter investigated immediately.

Acting Speaker silenced!
Jaffna district MP M. Kanagalingam Sivajilingam's name was proposed to preside during sittings on Friday in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairman of Committees during the afternoon sessions.

A reluctant MP took the chair as SLMC Rauff Hakeem was on his feet. However soon his arch foe Minister Douglas Devananda was on his feet launching a scathing attack on the LTTE and its leader. And for once Mr. Sivajilingam who normally likes to interrupt Mr. Devananda had to keep quiet.

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