SJB continues boycott of Parliamentary sessions claiming lack of security

Jathika Jana Balawegaya MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (6) called Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena for a full inquiry on incidents of intimidation of opposition members in Parliament.

The opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya MPs have boycotted sessions and are currently holding a protest outside Parliament against incidents of intimidation which took place on Saturday.

The Speaker has decided to appoint a Committee to look into these incidents, but Mr Dissanayake pointed out that there was no necessity of appointing committees that take a long time.

He said that the budget debate ends on December 10 and a committee report may take several months to come.

Mr Gajendra Kumara Ponnambalam told Parliament that the Speaker should maintain decorum in Parliament and should go on to name parliamentarians and get them out if unparliamentary language is used.

He also said that steps should be taken to prevent MPs unnecessarily interrupting on the grounds of Point of Order.

SJB members holding placards held the protest outside Parliament.

“This is a move to prevent the opposition from expressing their views in Parliament”, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said.

He said the Speaker should be able to ensure that security is maintained inside Parliament.

Chief Government Whip Jhonston Fernando said that the opposition move was to internationalise the issue claiming that they do not have security in Parliament.

The incidents broke out on Saturday, after MP Manusha Nanayakkara made certain revelations about State Minister Kanchana Wijesekara and was allegedly intimidated by government MPs and state ministers.

However, ruling party members claim they were only trying to clarify matters with Mr Nanayakakra and not to threaten him.

But, JJB MP Dissanayake pointed out that it was an easy matter to be investigated as all recordings outside the chamber also was available in Parliament.