"Joint Opposition" protests in Parliament

The Local Authorities (Amendment) Bill that will give women additional representation in local bodies was passed amidst chaotic scenes in Parliament today, but not due to opposition to the Bill but due to protests from the joint opposition that they were being treated unfairly in the House.

 The joint opposition led by MP Dinesh Gunawardena walked to the Well of the House as the debate on the Bill began saying that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had failed to give a ruling to the request by 51 MPs that they be recognized as an independent group in House.

Mr. Gunawardena said that they are not demanding the post of Opposition Leader but want adequate time to speak in the House as well as representation at the party leaders meeting.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he accepts that there is a problem where this group of MPs were concerned but said there can only be a government side and an opposition in Parliament.” We cannot have an opposition and a Joint opposition in the same Parliament,” he said.

Speaker Karu   Jayasuirya too said that some arrangement will be made to give more time to members in the “joint opposition” group to speak but said that the issue was a “domestic one” and the members of the UPFA will have to resolve these issues among themselves. 

Chandani Kirinde