House erupts over Speaker’s criticism of President

* Karu reiterates his right to defend CC

By Saman Indrajith-February 7, 2019, 10:49 pm 

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and the UPFA clashed, in parliament, yesterday, over the former’s criticism of President Maithripala Sirisena’s statement in the House, the previous day.

President Sirisena lambasted the Constitutional Council headed by Speaker Jayasuriya as well as the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka over handling of judges appointment and STF deployment at Angunakolapalessa state-of-the prison as well as inordinate delay in clearing of peacekeepers bound for overseas UN missions.

Parliament sittings were suspended for about 35 minutes, yesterday, morning following protests by UPFA MPs against the Speaker for finding fault with President Sirisena. Trouble erupted when the Speaker responded to the President’s allegations.

Condemning the Speaker’s statement, UPFA MPs demanded a debate on the activities of the Constitutional Council.

The Speaker ruled out an immediate debate, prompting some opposition MPs to shout at him. They called his impartiality into question.

Leader of the House, Public Enterprise, Kandyan Heritage and Kandy Development Minister Lakshman Kiriella said that though their demand for a debate on Thursday couldn’t be granted, it could take place later.

Chief Opposition Whip Mahinda Amaraweera said that the Opposition would not accept the Speaker’s statement on the President. There were serious issues as regards the Constitutional Council’s role in appointing judges to the courts, the MP said.

Speaker Jayasuriya: We cannot allow a debate on this matter, today. The President made a statement and as the Chairman of the Constitutional Council, I, too, have to make a clarification. That is my right. I exercised my right. Now, you cannot debate it. The Leader of the House agreed to give a date for the debate.

Chief Opposition Whip Mahinda Amaraweera: I am not making allegations against courts. You mentioned that appointments could not be made only on the basis of seniority. If there are other criteria they must be named. There is shortage of judges. If the Constitutional Council keeps rejecting nominations, then the problem will aggravate.

In the same way. we cannot agree with the conduct of the Human Rights Commission. Give us an opportunity to express our views."

Leader of the House Minister Kiriella: We cannot give a debate on the Constitutional Council, today. We are ready to give a date in the next sitting week. We said so at the party leaders’ meeting. If the Opposition acts in this manner we will never give them a debate.

Speaker Jayasuriya: We cannot debate it, today.

MP Dinesh Gunawardena: You criticised the President and that cannot be permitted.

Speaker Jayasuriya: I made my statement in the capacity of Chairman of the Constitutional Council. I can do that.

MP Bandula Gunawardena: You misled the courts, claiming that you had a majority in Parliament but where is it?

MP Chandima Weerakkody: The Speaker acts like a dictator.

Leader of the House: They, too, voted for the appointment of Constitutional Council.

MP Dinesh Gunawardena: The government, yesterday, said at the party leaders’ meeting that it would suspend the Standing Orders and take up the motion of forming national government. Now you say you are not doing it.

Minister Kiriella: I presented my opinions to the Prime Minister and informed him of the matters taken up at the party leaders’ meeting. The Prime Minister then told me that there was no need for suspending Standing Orders to debate it and we could postpone the matter till the next sitting week.

MP Bandula Gunawardena: You made a statement on the President of this country. We too need to speak.

Following uproar of MPs the Speaker suspended the sittings and called a party leaders’ meeting.