Committee decisions on alleged assaults over Diana Gamage

The five-member committee appointed by the Speaker of the Parliament to probe the recent heated dispute and alleged assaults concerning State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage and SJB Members of Parliament (MPs) Sujith Sanjaya Perera and Rohana Bandara convened today morning (25).

The Committee led by Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa convened at the Parliament Complex, with the participation of MPs Gayantha Karunathilaka, Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, Ramesh Pathirana and former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. 

Following the meeting, the Deputy Speaker told the media that State Minister Piyal Nishantha had been recognized as a crucial witness to the incident.

Hence, in order to get a statement, he will be called to the upcoming Committee meeting on November 6. 

Following that, the two members of the main opposition will be summoned before the inquiry panel. 

The Committee Members resolved at today’s meeting to enlist the support of two female MPs in order to continue their probe. Here, irrespective of their positions, the Deputy Speaker vouched on taking decisive action against the MPs. 

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the creation of an independent body on Monday (23) to regulate the behaviour of MPs in the wake of the said disorderly events took place in the House. In this context, a joint-proposal was presented by the Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.

Also approved by the Cabinet was the directive to the Legal Draftsman to draft a Bill whist considering the Speaker’s and political party leaders’ opinions.