Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena yesterday took action to remove MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha and MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara from the Chamber after they went up to the Presiding Official Chair and behaved in an unruly manner by threatening the Deputy Speaker.
Upon the notification of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Serjeant-at-Arms, Narendra Fernando informed the two MPs concerned to leave the House.
Parliament met yesterday at 9.30 am under the patronage of the Deputy Speaker and after the scheduled activities, the round of giving answers to the oral questions began.
Accordingly, MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara started asking additional questions after receiving answers to his questions.
Meanwhile, a heated situation arose when MPs Nalin Bandara and Wasantha Yapa Bandara made various statements by raising several matters which were not related to the issue. Accordingly, a situation arose where the Deputy Speaker, who was presiding at that time, could not control the House. Then the two MPs approached the Speaker’s chair in a threatening manner and demanded the Deputy Speaker to allow them to express their views.
At that time, the MPs of the ruling party also came to the Presiding Chair and were seen protesting against the behavior of the two members of the Opposition. MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha was also seen moving the files and books on his desk onto the desk of the Parliament Secretariat in front of the Presiding Chair. MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, who went near the Presiding Chair was also seen clapping his hands on the Speakers table. MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara was also there.
Along with this, the MPs of the ruling party also came before the Presiding chair and there was a heated argument between State Ministers Thenuka Vidanagamage, Chamara Sampath, MP Jayantha Ketagoda and the two MPs.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, who stood up as the Assembly was restless for a long time, said, the Deputy Speaker to adjourn the House.
Then the Deputy Speaker took measures to adjourn Parliament for 10 minutes at around 10.35 am due to the continued unrest and the two Opposition MPs not leaving the Speaker’s chair.
A large group of school students and a group of foreigners were watching the Parliamentary proceedings when the MPs were behaving like this. Then the Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera informed officials to remove these groups from the Gallery.
Accordingly, the Parliamentary Police officers were seen removing a group of tourists from Japan who were watching the Parliamentary proceedings and a large group of school students and teachers from the Polonnaruwa area.While bringing back the children, the teachers mentioned that there is not much for the children to see in Parliament.
The adjourned Parliament resumed at around 10.50 am with Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena presiding.
The Chief Government Whip, Minister Prasanna Ranathunga, requested the Speaker to remove the members who behaved inappropriately from the proceedings of the Assembly.
Accordingly, the Speaker informed the MPs Nalin Bandara and Wasantha Yapa Bandara that threatening and frightening the Presiding Chair should be considered as a dishonour to the country and the nation, and accordingly he informed them to withdraw from the the House yesterday.
Accordingly, the officers were led by the Serjeant-at-arms Narendra Fernando arranged to remove the two MPs from the Chamber.
Chief Government Whip and Minister Prasanna Ranatunga – If the Deputy Speaker acted on what the Opposition said, we are not ready to answer the questions. It’s like they are telling novels. You also allow it.
Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa- The allotted time for asking questions is one hour. That hour is over now. So don’t waste time unnecessarily. So keep the questions short.
MP Nalin Bandara- I can’t ask the question at once, just wait a minute.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena- These MPs are asking questions that are not related to the matters raised by them in oral questions. If the Deputy Speaker can’t control the House then adjourn the House.
Then, the Deputy Speaker adjourned Parliament for 10 minutes, and then the work of the House resumed again under the patronage of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.
MP Wimal Weerawansa – We need to take care of everyone’s time and there should be a system for that.
Chief Government Whip and Minister Prasanna Ranatunga – There were schoolchildren and foreigners here. Speaker, please pay attention to the manner in which MP Wasantha Yapa approached you and behaved, as well as the threat made by MP Nalin Bandara. Remove them from the Assembly at least for today.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena-There is a rule to ask the oral questions. In the past, We allowed opposition members to raise questions,but it was misused by them. Therefore, it is disrespectful to the country and the nation for these MPs to come to this chair and threaten the chair. They should understand it. Therefore, please make arrangements to evacuate both of MPs to from the Assembly today.
Irangika Range and Ishara Mudugamuwa