No basis for NCM against Parliament Sec. Gen. says Speaker

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

The Parliamentary Affairs Committee in its report on the controversial supplementary sum vote for Rs. 55 million cleared the Chairman and the Secretary General from unfair practice and dependency.

The Committee headed by Leader of the Opposition Rajavarothiam Sampanthan included former Speaker and UPFA Hambantota District MP Chamal Rajapaksa, Minister of City Planning and Water

Supply Rauff Hakeem, and Minister of Justice and Minister of Buddhasasana Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe as members.

According to its observations, division was taken at 5.45pm on 5 May 2016 even though it was due at 6.30pm. Making room for latecomers to vote could have led to some confusion and human error, held the Committee in its report along with several recommendations to improve the conduct of some members.

“The Committee is of view that during the last few months the conduct of some members had been unruly, aggressive and hostile. If there is a continuation of this kind of conduct, there will be an erosion of public confidence reposed in the Parliament and the democratic system of governance. Such a situation might eventually eat into the vitals of the democratic principles and norms,” held the Committee in the report by recommending stringent measures to uphold discipline and to maintain decorum of the Parliament.

Setting ground to avoid future controversies, the Committee recommends resolving similar matters by a discussion at the party leaders’ meeting. If no consensus is arrived at, in considering circumstances under which the uncertainty has arisen, the Committee recommends holding a fresh counting of votes.

“When a bill or a resolution is presented to Parliament, the Minster in charge of the subject concerned including the officials shall act in due diligence and appraise the house with clarity the nature and the purpose of the bill or resolution. The ringing of the division bell to indicate the voting of members must be continued for five minutes. When voting has been fixed at a particular time, the House shall not commence voting before the fixed time even if the debate is concluded. The House may be adjourned till the time fixed for voting. At the time of voting, in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker shall preside and conduct the voting in the House,” the Committee recommended.

Enhancing the skills of the members of the Speaker’s panel special training was also recommended.

“Officials of the Parliament shall not engage with the members or any outsider to evaluate or examine the conduct in the House or any other related matter unless there is direction from the Speaker. Stringent measures should be taken to uphold the discipline and to maintain the decorum of the Parliament. The existing Standing Orders may be revised appropriately to meet the requirements,” the Committee added in its recommendations. 

Based on the Committee recommendations the Speaker Karu Jayasuriaya informed the House that there is no requirement to continue with a vote of no-confidence against the Secretary General of Parliament. 

“Similar incidents were reported in many other Parliaments around the world. According to Hansards, we had three similar incidents in our Parliament. The British parliament corrected 11 such incidents. So, it is unfair to highlight this incident as the first ever in the world,” said Speaker Jayasuriya.