Commotion at Parliament leads to suspension of Mannapperuma

Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Ajith Mannapperuma was suspended from Parliament for four weeks, after he attempted to remove the Mace today morning.

The incident sparked after the speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told the MP there was no time available to raise the question from the Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles.

However the Speaker initially told the MP to ask the question, but later said that there wasn’t sufficient time to raise the question.

Mr Mannapperuma replied ‘Ahanawa’ confirming that he would be asking the question, but later after the Speaker told there wasn’t sufficient time, he protested about the move.

 Minister Tiran Alles pointed out that there is no time left and as it is delaying the parliamentary process opted to table his response.

However the opposition members were not happy about the action, therefore they started to protest about the move.

The Chief opposition whip Lakshman Kiriella said that they have demarcated time for their convenience of conduct but that is not included into the Standing Orders and said that the questioning sessions cannot be stopped.

He also pointed out that the minister responsible is present and he should be allowed to answer.

Meanwhile the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that when MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake stood up to ask another quarry yet he was denied to ask his question, but the Speaker had start oral questioning, and then accordingly  to tradition MP Mannapperuma asked his quarry. Therefore he pointed out the Minister responsible is bound to answer the quarry.

His suspension came after opposition members entered the well of the House and protested about Minister Tiran Alles refusing to answer a question. Opposition MP’s hooted and shouted while MP Mannapperuma attempted to remove the Mace.

Thereafter the Speaker postponed parliament sessions for 10 minutes and resuming sessions he suspended the MP from the parliament for a period of four weeks.