Parliament: MPs playing truant 

 By Saman Indrajith-October 27, 2014, 12:00 pm

Skipping Parliament sessions had become a habit of the MPs, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said yesterday.

He made this observation when it was pointed out that there were no MPs to raise questions listed on the Order Paper and there were no ministers to reply. It was found that only two out of 14 MPs listed to raise questions were present in the Chamber. The two MPs present were Sajith Premadasa and Niroshan Perera. But, there were no ministers to respond to their questions.

MP Sajith Premadasa: "This is a world record. There are no ministers to respond to MPs’ questions".

Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena: What is the world record? Is it the absence of MPs?

UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe: Some UNP MPs could not come to Parliament as they had received summons from court to be present there.

Parliament: MPs ...

UPFA National List MP AHM Azwer: MPs should be present in Parliament. There are only two MPs on the Opposition side.

Speaker Rajapaksa: Both government and opposition members are the same. They skip parliamentary sessions. There are no MPs to raise questions and no ministers to respond.

Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga: I think the Chair has been informed of the inability of some MPs to be present here as they had to go to courts.

Speaker Rajapaksa: Yes, I am aware of it. But both sides should see to it that MPs are present.