P’ment avoids taking up questions on Party Leaders’ decision

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Based on a decision made by Party Leaders, the Parliament avoided taking up Questions for Oral Answers when the House sat yesterday with Deputy Chairman of Committees Selvam Adaikkalanathan in Chair.

However, yesterday’s order paper, which was already in print, contained 15 Questions for Oral Answers raised by members of Parliament seeking answers from ministers and the Government.

In Parliament, Questions for Oral Answers are asked by Members of Parliament from a minister in order to obtain information or press for action on the administration of the country and ranges from foreign relations to individual victims of bureaucracy.

The Party Leaders’ Meeting is the informal committee to consider and decide on the time that should be allocated for the discussion of Parliamentary Business and such other matters until the Committee on Parliamentary Business is formally constituted. (AH)