House disrupted again

JO alleges Speaker acted in violation of ‘agreement’

Opposition members shouting at government MPs. (Pix by Kamal Bogoda)

By Ajith Alahakoon, Akitha Perera and Shamindra Ferdinando-November 16, 2018, 11:48 pm 

Yesterday’s parliamentary proceedings disrupted by the governing Joint Opposition (JO) due to the failure of party leaders to reach a consensus on the agenda despite an understanding by major political parties on Thursday as regards resumption of parliamentary sittings. President Maithripala Sirisena met senior representatives of the UNP, the TNA, the JVP et al and Prime Minister Rajapaksa separately.

President Sirisena called for a vote on a fresh no-confidence motion (NCM) on PM Rajapaksa in a proper manner. He wanted an amended version of the motion, presented last Wednesday (Nov 14), to be submitted. But, the Opposition sought again to take a vote on the original NCM after having suspended Standing Orders in an exercise similar to the last Wednesday’s.

JO Puttalam District MP Arundika Fernando sat on Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Chair before the commencement of the sittings. Surrounded by JO colleagues, Fernando taunted UNP and JVP members for over 30 minutes. Around 2.05 pm, Jayasuriya, surrounded by a group of unarmed police personnel

made an abortive bid to reach the Speaker’s chair. The Sergeant-at-arms Narendra Mihindukumar Fernando, carrying the mace, followed the Speaker. However, JO lawmakers thwarted their attempt while the Speaker’s chair was taken away. An MP also grabbed a chair that was being used as an improvised shield by a police officer.

JO members threw books and various other objects at Jayasuriya, his police guard as well as UNP, JVP and TNA members who remained seated and refrained from responding to the JO challenge.

During yesterday’s incidents in parliament, President Sirisena’s Office issued a statement that the parliament wouldn’t be prorogued under any circumstances.

A JO MP threw some liquid which Opposition MP Gamini Jayawickrena Perera (UNP) and Vijitha Herath alleged contained chillie powder.

Earlier in the day, the party leaders failed to reach a consensus on the agenda in the wake of Speaker Jajasuriya not heeding government representatives’ call for tangible action against those MPs who had brought into the chamber what JO members called sharp objects.

Having failed to evict the JO group from the Speaker’s podium, Jayasuriya conducted called for vote on fresh NCM and declared it was passed by voice vote. Last Wednesday’s vote too was passed by voice vote according to the Speaker.

The Sergeant at Arms carrying the mace stood next to the Speaker surrounded by police officers.

Immediately after UNP, JVP, TNA MPs raised their hands to approve the fresh NCM; the Speaker left the chamber, while JO lawmakers threw various objects at them.

The police refrained from responding to MPs throughout the confrontation.

The parliament was adjourned till 10 am on Nov 19.

Following the conclusion of day’s short proceedings, JVP MP Vijitha Herath alleged that the JO deliberately caused the disruption to prevent seven among its group voting for the NCM. Herath said that he was doused with water containing chillie powder and hit with a copy of the Constitution.

The JVP group in parliament consists of six members.

Addressing the media later, TNA Chief R. Sampanthan insisted that PM Rajapaksa should have proven his majority in parliament without causing chaos.

Trincomalee District MP Sampanthan said that President Sirisena named Mahinda Rajapaksa PM as he believed Rajapaksa had the majority in parliament. The veteran politician said that Rajapaksa should have faced the NCM.

The TNA parliamentary group comprises 15 in the wake of one lawmaker pledging allegiance to Sirisena-Rajapaksa combine.

Both the TNA and JVP have pledged support to the UNP parliamentary group comprising106, including the Speaker plus one who contested on the SLMC ticket.