House adjourned due to lack of quorum

The Parliament was adjourned yesterday at 4.18 p.m. due to lack of quorum.

The House moved the adjournment motion on ‘Allegation against Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine by GMOA’, proposed by United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance MP Dr.  Sudarshini Fernandopulle at 11.30 a.m., and was unable to meet the Standing Order 11 to have a minimum number of lawmakers in the Chamber.

According to Standing Order 11, the quorum of Parliament required in terms of Article 73 of the Constitution is 20 Members, including the person presiding. If at any time the attention of the Speaker or other Member presiding is directed to the fact that a quorum is not present, the Speaker or other Member presiding will order the division bells to be rung, and if at the expiration of five minutes, a quorum be not present, the Speaker or other Member presiding will adjourn Parliament without question put.

While the Adjournment debate was progressing, United National Party MP Prof. Ashu Marasinghe raised the quorum issue and wasted the Chair to ring the division bell. In the absence of numbers, the House was adjourned till 1 p.m. on 23 July. (AH)