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SJB MPs protest outside Parliament against unruly conduct against them

06 Dec 2021

[foogallery id="177845"] MPs from the main Samagi Jana Balawegaya Parliamentary Opposition staged a protest along the steps of the Parliamentary complex today (06), against alleged unruly conduct committed by Government MPs against them. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena today decided to call for a report on the recent unruly behaviour of several lawmakers in the parliament chambers. Accordingly, a committee of senior Members of Parliament of the ruling party and the opposition will be appointed within this week to look into the matter. On Saturday (Dec. 04), the members of the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) walked out during the parliamentary session, demanding that their security in the House be ensured. A heated debate also ensued in the House on Dec. 03 and 04, with regard to SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara not being given additional time to address the parliamentary session. Chief Opposition Whip, MP Lakshman Kiriella previously alleged a group of nearly 15 - 20 lawmakers of the ruling party approached MP Nanayakkara on Friday and attempted to assault him when he requested five extra minutes from the Speaker for his speech. He also claimed that ruling party MPs again approached MP Nanayakkara on Saturday in the opposition’s lobby following his parliamentary address and tried to assault him. However, the ruling party parliamentarians, in response, accused MP Nanayakkara of making false allegations in the House and called for an inquiry against him. Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said that SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara ran to the Chair threatening the Speaker on Friday (3), after the latter imposed a time limit for the debate in the House. Speaking in Parliament on Saturday (4), Minister Fernando said: “The CCTV video footage of the incident would provide evidence and prove the aggressive behaviour of MP Nanayakkara and how he turned violent after the Speaker ruled against additional time.  “MP Nanayakkara ran to the Chair menacingly and it is our duty to protect the Speaker. I went there to defend the Speaker. An MP has no right to threaten the Speaker or a presiding member. Some of those in the Opposition seem to think that they are the governing party in this House when they issue threats and demands to the Speaker.”  He went on to say: “The incumbent Speaker is a man who upholds democratic values unlike his predecessor Karu Jayasuriya who did not even allow the Opposition MPs to raise a Point of Order. The incumbent speaker addresses UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the former Prime Minister. During the times when Karu Jayasuriya was the speaker, Mahinda Rajapaksa was addressed as an MP. I tried to protect the Speaker and state that we would not allow anyone in the Opposition to lay their hands on the Speaker. We also demand from the Speaker to conduct an investigation against the incident of MP Nanayakkara threatening the Speaker.”


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