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| Tuesday, 20 July 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Parliament to debate media today Despite the joint-Opposition's demand for an adjournment debate on the alleged misuse of the state media, the Government carried the day yesterday with its insistence that the private media too be roped in to the debate finally gaining the nod at the Party Leaders meeting. The Party leaders met yesterday under the Chairmanship of Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara to consider an earlier decision to close the public gallery until further notice. It was finally decided to suspend the earlier decision and have the public Gallery kept open. The party leaders also agreed to debate an adjournment motion of the Jathika Hela Urumaya on the LTTE's Interim Self Governing Authority proposals in August on the request of Thamil Arasu Kachchi since the ITAK MPs have gone to Batticaloa to attend the funeral of the sister of TNA Parliament Group leader R. Sampanthan. Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thera of the Jathika Hela Urumaya had not opposed the idea of postponing the debate for August, at the party leaders meeting. The party leaders agreed to take the adjournment debate on development work of the Government on Wednesday. Parliament will also take up the adjournment debate on the Dengue epidemic on Thursday as agreed at the party leaders meeting yesterday. Friday has been set apart for Private Members motions. The Government refused to accede to the Joint Opposition request for the control of all Parliament Committees. However, the joint Opposition requested that their request be noted. Deputy Speaker Geethanjana Gunawardene, and Deputy Chairman Committees M. Schchithanandan participated at the party leaders meeting chaired by Speaker Lokubandara while Ministers Anura Bandaranaike, Dinesh Gunawardene, Douglas Devananda, D.E.W. Gunasekera and MP Wimal Weerawansa represented the Government. The Opposition was represented by Ven Athuraliye Ratana thera, Karu Jayasuriya, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Mavai Senathirajah and Arumugam Thondaman. Meanwhile, six MPs will take their oaths before the Speaker when Parliament meets today. They are M.R. Mithrapala (Kegalle District) Nirmala Kotelawala (Kalutara District) and Mohamed Muzamil ( JVP National List) all from the Freedom Alliance and Basheer Segudawood and Najimudeen (SLMC) and Myown Musthapa all from the United National Front. |
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