Speaker admonishes MPs on unruly behaviour

By Ashwin Hemmathagama 

The unruly behaviour of the Joint Opposition lawmakers, resulting in the suspension of Parliament on 3 July, came under severe criticism from Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday.

Expressing his deep concern over the behaviour that tarnished the recognition and respect of both Parliament and fellow lawmakers, Speaker Jayasuriya said: “Regulations under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act were to be taken up for debate and approval. But the unruly behaviour of the few lawmakers, which led to removing the mace from its stand, disrupted Parliament proceedings.”

According to the Speaker, officials were assigned in the morning, well before the Parliament sessions started, to conduct an enquiry over the controversial statement of the State Minister of Child Affairs, Vijayakala Maheswaran. Action was underway to translate her speech, and to inform her party leader, calling for disciplinary action.

“The Parliament of Sri Lanka is well recognised in the region as well as in the world for its conduct and stature. But with a few lawmakers’ unruly behaviour, the image of the entire Parliament has been tarnished. I have already informed the Attorney General to take action as necessary,” said Speaker Jayasuriya.