Govt. and Opposition Whips go-toe-to toe on rights of MPs under present and previous Speakers

by Saman Indrajith

Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament yesterday that the Speaker was not there to protect the interests of either the President or the government but to safeguard the interests of the MPs.

Kiriella said that while he was out of the Chamber his counterpart Chief Government Whip had made remarks against him for raising the issue of MP Rishad Bathiudeen being held on detention orders.

Chief Government Whip Highways Minister earlier in the day said that Chief Opposition Whip Kiriella had raised the issue of MP Bathiudeen in the presence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. “The Chief Opposition Whip spoke for MP Bathiudeen, while his party leader Sajith Premadasa in public disowned Bathiudeen stating that Bathiudeen was not a member of SJB. The Chief Opposition Whip and the Opposition Leader do not see eye to eye on this matter. The Chief Opposition Whip raised the issue with the intention of causing an embarrassment to the government while President Rajapaksa was in the Chamber,” Minister Fernando said.

The Chief Opposition Whip later after obtaining time from the Chair said: “In my absence the Chief Government Whip mentioned my name and said that my opinion on this issue of MP Bathiudeen was different from the Opposition Leader’s. I must remind the government that it is my duty under the British parliamentary tradition to raise the issues pertaining to the safety and the rights of the MPs in the Opposition. It does not matter whether they are from the SJB or the TNA or any other party, If there is an issue pertaining to an MP in the opposition, I am duty bound to take it up here. That is the tradition of the British parliament. It is sad that there are people who are not aware of these traditions. Under the same traditions the Speaker is duty bound to protect the rights of the MPs whether they are from government or the opposition.

Chief Government Whip Minister Fernando: “You state something else while your leader holds another opinion. Where were those traditions when Karu Jayasuriya was the Speaker? Incumbent Speaker ensures the democratic rights of all and gives us all equal time to speak. You are slinging mud at him.”