The Speaker's Office has denied allegations leveled by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna concerning verbal sexual harrasment of SJB MP Thalatha Athukorala.
Issuing a statement, the Speaker's Office stressed that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana was not the person Chairing proceedings at the time the incident is said to have occurred.
The statement stressed that as such, the Speaker was never a party to the exchange that is said to have occurred.
"When facilities are available to peruse Parliament hansards and visuals of recorded proceedings, the Speaker expressed regret that the MP made such a grossly irresponsible statement that dishonours the office of the Speaker and Parliament, and also misleads the public," the Speaker's Office emphasized.
Raising an issue of privilege yesterday, Ms Wijerathna alleged that certain government ministers and MPs had subjected SJB MP Thalatha Athukorala to verbal sexual harassment during the debate on the no-confidence motion on Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila.
Ms Wijerathna also alleged that Speaker Abeywardana, who she claimed was in the chair at the time, had not intervened to stop the harassment and had even smiled at the exchange, seemingly enjoying it.
You can share this post!
Content
Kasun, was born in 28th Sept 1964, the grandson of the legendary author and linguist Munidasa Cumaratunga and son of SSP Bindu Kumaratunga and Winifred
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) backed by the Excise and Customs Department today launched a fresh drive to collect taxes including some Rs.780 billion listed as ‘collectable defaults’.
The Supreme Court today unanimously dismissed a Fundamental Rights petition filed by five convicts in the 1996 Krishanthi Kumaraswamy abduction, rape, and murder case.
A SriLankan airlines flight has been grounded in an airport in Indonesia due to a technical defect leaving 93 passengers stranded, an official said.
Former international spinner Sachithra Senanayake is set to become the first Sri Lankan cricketer indicted under the country’s Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports Act (Act No. 24 of 2019).
Leave Comments