Speaker warns Vasu

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday warned UPFA Joint Opposition group MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara to behave in Parliament and take back the criticism made against the chair for being partly responsible for leasing the tank farm in Trincomalee to Lanka IOC many years ago.

“It was a collective decision taken by Cabinet to lease the tank farm to Lanka IOC. I was a member of that Cabinet and Cabinet decisions are reached collectively and one person cannot be held responsible for a decision. So you should withdraw the charges made against the Speaker who was the then Minster of Petroleum,” instructed the Speaker.

However, MP Nanayakkara, who was seen on his feet using an apologetic tone while withdrawing the charges he against made at the Speaker, said that it was the “Minister Karu Jayasuriya who was responsible” but not the current Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. (AH)