Expensive jokes

Wednesday 8th December, 2021

What the government has been doing in Parliament during the past few days is like smashing up pots in a desolate house, as a local saying goes. The SJB is boycotting the budget debate in protest against an alleged incident where one of its MPs, Manusha Nanayakkara, was roughed up by a government member on Friday. Denying the allegation, the SLPP has accused MP Nanayakkara of threatening the Speaker. Thus, the government and the Opposition have been trading accusations liberally much to the neglect of their legislative duties.

It serves no purpose to have a budget debate without the participation of the main Opposition party therein; the position of the government on its own Appropriation Bill is already known, and none of its members can be expected to criticise it. Therefore, it is the duty of the Opposition to analyse the budget, highlight its flaws and suggest improvements or changes thereto.

Yesterday, the government MPs were heard making sardonic comments at the expense of former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, MP, and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who was absent. Their utterances had nothing to do with the budget. They seem to have taken the SJB’s protest very lightly if their wry sense of humour is anything to go by. They may have been amused by their own jokes, which however went down like lead balloons where the public is concerned. Those who cared to watch yesterday’s parliamentary proceedings were left nonplussed. The public may not have minded the government MPs’ jokes in the House, but for the fact that they are very expensive; parliamentary sittings cost about five million rupees each. Public funds are being wasted in this manner while many people are skipping meals, and vital sectors are experiencing fund cuts.

One may not buy into the government’s claim that MP Nanayakkara flew across the House, as it were, to threaten the Speaker. But both the Opposition and the government must ensure that none of its members sprint towards the Chair, in a huff, or otherwise. There are ways and means of registering an MP’s protest against the Speaker’s rulings in a civilised manner. There have been instances where some MPs almost harmed the Speaker. In October 2018, a group of Opposition MPs who are now in the SLPP government, almost gheraoed the then Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in protest against his rulings.

The Opposition has faulted Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa for being absent in the House during the budget debate. Former PM Wickremesinghe yesterday reminded the government that the Finance Minister was duty-bound to be present in the House, and President Chandrika Kumaratunga and President Mahinda Rajapaksa had done so as Finance Ministers. Those who are au fait with parliamentary affairs and traditions will agree with the former Prime Minister. Some government MPs have sought to justify the Finance Minister’s absence, but their line of reasoning sounds absurd. They are trying to defend the indefensible.

The opponents of the executive presidency want it scrapped and powers of Parliament fully restored. But what is the use of enhancing the powers of a Parliament whose members do not carry out their legislative duties and functions to the satisfaction of the public?

Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament, the other day, that the MPs should be able to gain admission to the Law College and universities by virtue of their legislative experience. Going by the behaviour of some of them, it looks as if they had to be sent back to kindergarten.

Meanwhile, the protesting SJB MPs have chosen to make their speeches on the budget via social media platforms. If the budget debate can be conducted without the presence of the Finance Minister and most MPs, with the Opposition using the Internet to comment thereon, the question is why Parliament should not opt for virtual sessions so that its costs can be kept low, and debates held without interruptions or fisticuffs.