• House Leader's words make Oppo. see red 
• Spkr. orders to strike off certain words from Hansard

Speaker of the Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne was compelled to adjourn proceedings yesterday (11) following repeated disruptions and tense exchanges between Government and Opposition lawmakers. 

The disruptions took place over the no-confidence motion (NCM) brought against the Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (retired), Aruna Jayasekera, which was rejected by the Speaker earlier.

On Wednesday (10), the Speaker announced that the NCM brought against Jayasekera could not be accepted in its present form. He explained that his decision was based on reports submitted by the Attorney General and the Parliamentary Secretariat. Since the announcement, the Opposition has been demanding that both reports be tabled in the Parliament. However, the Speaker showed no indication of being prepared to do so. 

The dispute carried over into yesterday’s sitting, where the main Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s (SJB) Parliamentarians again demanded that the said reports be tabled in the Parliament. This led to yet another tense situation in the Chamber.

SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekara said that the Government had assigned Aruna Jayasekera a personal staff of 15, and security. He argued that if the Government claims that Aruna Jayasekera has no power to be challenged through an NCM, then, no one in the country, including the Army Commander, should follow his instructions. 

At this stage, the Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunathilleka stood up to speak, prompting objections from Ruling Party Members. Continuous disruptions followed, and he (Karunathilleka) requested the Speaker to bring the House to order.

The Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake then intervened. “We can’t be disadvantaged by our disciplined behaviour in the Parliament. Ten members are speaking from the Opposition, and we get only one chance. That cannot happen. You (Speaker) can’t let it happen. We can defeat this NCM with National People’s Power MPs from the Western Province alone. What are these ‘lapayi sipayi' (not worthy of consideration/insignificant)? Because of our humbleness and our discipline, we can’t be treated unfairly. Therefore, we request you to continue the proceedings,” he said.

Opposition MPs then rose from their seats to protest Rathnayake’s statement. The Speaker urged them to take their seats, but they moved to the centre of the Chamber chanting slogans, including “Thief, thief”, in protest of the Speaker’s conduct.

As tensions escalated, Rathnayake described the Opposition’s protest as “terrorism” which further inflamed the situation. Government MPs also stood up at this point. The Speaker instructed Rathnayake to withdraw the words “lapayi sipayi”.

Rathnayake then reminded the House that two supplementary estimates and a Bill were scheduled to be passed during the sitting and urged the Speaker to continue with Government business. 

“This is not the Parliamentary system; this is terrorism. Please continue the session without allowing this rogue politics. Continue the session whether they sit or not. It doesn’t matter if they stand. They will sit later. Government business is the priority,” he said.

Following this, the Speaker asked SJB MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha to proceed with the question that he had submitted for an oral answer, as per the day’s agenda. The Speaker further said that the problematic situation could be taken up at the Parliamentary Business Committee meeting scheduled for 12 noon.

At this moment, Karunathilleka requested Dr. Wickramaratne to direct Rathnayake to withdraw a remark he had made earlier – specifically the “lapayi sipayi” comment – and that it be removed from the Hansard.

The Speaker assured the House that necessary action would be taken regarding the matter. In response, Rathnayake argued that if such action was being taken, then, similar measures should be applied to the Opposition MPs who he claimed had insulted Government MPs. “How much are these Opposition MPs insulting us? This is rogue politics.”

Jayamaha, instead of asking his scheduled question, chose to express his opinion on the situation and on Rathnayake’s earlier remarks. At that time, the question was supposed to be directed to the Minister of Energy, Kumara Jayakody. As a result, the Speaker instructed the Minister to respond. However, as Jayakody proceeded to respond, Rathnayake intervened once again, pointing out that since Jayamaha had not formally asked the question, the Minister did not need to answer it.

With the Opposition continuing to protest and disruptions showing no sign of abating, the Speaker adjourned the session of the Parliament.