Uproar in House

By Gagani Weerakoon & Skandha Gunasekarac-2016-02-10

Parliament sittings came to an abrupt end soon after the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Bill, seeking to increase the percentage of female representatives in local government bodies, was passed midst booing from Opposition benches.
Pandemonium prevailed as MPs of the Joint Opposition stormed the Well of the House demanding that they be assured their right to act as an independent group in Parliament.

Pandemonium erupted when Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said he could not be party to the sin of splitting political parties when a group of UPFA MPs demanded that Speaker Jayasuriya recognizes them as an independent group in the House.
When the Bill was taken for debate MPs led by MEP Leader Dinesh Gunawardena came to the Well of the House and shouted in protest against the Joint Opposition not being accepted as an independent group.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the commencement of the debate said that the Bill sought to increase representation by women in local government bodies and asked why and how the Opposition was trying to disrupt it.
"We have given additional time to the members of the Joint Opposition to participate in the debate. We could continue the debate and get the Bill passed enabling the increase of the number of women members in local government authorities. I would like to ask the members of the Joint Opposition whether they are against increasing the number of women representation," the Prime Minister said.

Members of the Joint Opposition including Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Wimal Weerwansa, C.B. Ratnayake, Udaya Gammanpila, Dullas Alahapperuma, Chandrasiri Gajadheera, Salinda Dissanayake, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Namal Rajapaksa, Niroshan Premaratne, D.V. Chanaka, Wimalaweera Dissanayake, Jayantha Samaraweera, Tharaka Balasuriya, Shehan Semasinghe, Indika Anuruddha, Prasanna Ranaweera, Weerakumara Dissanayake, Sanath Nishantha, and Kanchana Wijesekera shouted slogans from the Well of Parliament.
Government MPs came forward forming a human shield to protect the Prime Minister while members of the Joint Opposition were staging their protest.

Among them were Ravi Karunanayake, Lakshman Kiriella, Harin Fernando, Mujibur Rahuman, Kavinda Jayawardena, Nalin Bandara, Chandrani Bandara, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and Gayantha Karunathilake.
Leader of the House Minister Lakshman Kiriella said: When President Maithripala Sirisena summons them, around 40 of these MPs respond to and accept and agree with whatever the President says. Now they come here and try to show off as Opposition MPs. What is your true position?

Ministers and MPs in government ranks were seen shouting at the opposition MPs who in return booed their counterparts.
As pandemonium reigned and government members continued to speak on the subject of the debate irrespective of the commotion, Serjeant-at-Arms Anil Parakrama Samarasekera, his deputies Narendra Fernando and Kushan Jayaratne were seen protecting the Mace.

Ministers Chandrani Bandara, Anoma Gamage, Faizer Mustapaha and opposition MP Mavai Senadhiraja spoke on the Bill but none of their speeches lasted more than three minutes.
Leader of the House, University Education and Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella, then moved the House to its Committee Stage and presented amendments to the Bill amidst the chaos. The government rankers shouted 'aye' for each amendment.
As the Bill was approved by the House the Speaker adjourned sittings around 3:05 p.m., four and half hours earlier than the scheduled time.

DLF Leader MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara after adjournment said that his colleagues of the Joint Opposition would meet today and resume their protest again. He told the government to expect the same protest again until their demand to be accepted as an independent group in Parliament is acknowledged.
Serjeant-at-Arms Anil Parakrama and his deputies took the Mace away and walked through the protesting MPs to end the session.