Dinesh confident virus won’t disrupt House sittings

The government has declared a curfew in the Western Province to curb the spread of coronavirus, but Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena has called a special meeting today (29) to discuss how to conduct parliamentary sittings.

A spokesperson for Minister Gunawardena’s Office told The Island yesterday (28) that party leaders would meet in Parliament, which was closed and disinfected for two days following the detection of a COVID-19 infection. The spokesperson quoted Foreign Minister Gunawardena as having said that there was no need to put off sittings.

Last week, party leaders invited All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader Rishad Bathiudeen to attend Parliament on Oct 22 to vote on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution just hours after Prisons Minister Sudarshini Fernandopulle declared SJB lawmaker wouldn’t be allowed in.

(SF)