Parliament adjourned till tomorrow due to opposition protests

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena adjourned Parliament till 9.30am tomorrow (22) after protests by Opposition MPs demanding the conduct of the local government election made it impossible for proceedings to continue. 

Opposition MPs from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and those from the Freedom People's Alliance (FPA) were among those who came to the well of the House and held a protest soon after the start of the day's main proceedings. They shouted slogans, holding placards and posters demanding the conduct of the local government election. 

The Speaker attempted to carry on with the day's proceedings. Four Regulations under the Sri Lanka Tea Board Law and Regulations under the Companies Act were due to be passed by Parliament today after having been debated. Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana presented the regulations but his speech was repeatedly disrupted by opposition MPs who held up placards and posters, shouting 'Diyaw, Diyaw, Chande Diyawu' (Give us the Election). 

Speaker Abeywardena was forced forced to adjourn sittings as the continued disruptions made it impossible for proceedings to continue. 

Earlier, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella drew the Speaker's attention to how holding the local government election was now uncertain because the Treasury has not released the necessary funds requested by the Election Commission (EC) to hold the poll. He said the matter also threatens to create problems for Sri Lanka on the international stage, including the possible cancellation of the GSP Plus facility. 

National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa warned that postponing the local government election on the excuse that there are no funds available will pave the way for a government to postpone other elections using the same excuse. "If the President feels keeping this Parliament going is an irritation, he might force us to suspend sittings by insisting there is no money to keep these sittings going," he claimed.