Kiriella kicks off no-confidence debate against Speaker listing litany of wrongs

By Saman Indrajith

The debate on the no-confidence motion against the Speaker commenced with Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella moving a motion alleging that the Speaker had ignored the Supreme Court’s recommendations pertaining to Sections 13, 17, 20, 33 (6), 34 (1), 35 (1), 21, 22 and 33 of the Online Safety Bill.

Moving the motion, Kiriella said Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena had failed to uphold Westminster parliamentary traditions that required the Speaker to remain impartial. “Right from the beginning of his tenure he was partial to his party. He looks after only the interests of the

government. In the meantime, in addition to holding the Speaker post he functions as Chairman of the Weligama Development Coordination Committee, which is a political appointment made by the President.

“Ours is a parliamentary system respecting the Standing Orders as per what there should be functioning sectoral oversight committees. The Speaker has violated those Standing Orders and failed to appoint sectoral oversight committees for three years.

As per Standing Order 121 (1), the post of chairperson of the Committee on Public Finance should be given to the Opposition. The incumbent speaker prevented the Opposition getting that post for three years. If the Speaker had given the COPF post to the Opposition, we would have been able to warn of the economic crisis two years before its occurring and the nation wouldn’t be in the path of bankruptcy. As such, the Speaker is also responsible for the economic crisis.

The manner in which the Speaker prevents the Opposition from securing positions on the committees has become evident from recent appointment of COPE Chairman.

When the Aragalaya protests broke out, the Speaker got cold feet and made promises to this House that the Opposition MPs would be appointed to the watchdog committees, including the COPA and COPE.The Speaker has become a cat’s paw for the executive presidency.