Now, Diana blames Mark Antony for stabbing Caesar!

By Saman Indrajith

SJB MP Diana Gamage told Parliament yesterday (23) that she had voted with the government, according to her conscience, the previous day when the vote was taken on the 20th Amendment to the constitution because she loved the country over her party affiliations.

 Participating in a debate at the time of the adjournment of the House, MP Gamage said:  We must love our country over political affiliations. I take an example from history. In ancient Rome Caesar was stabbed. Among those who stabbed Caesar was his close friend Antony. After stabbing Caesar, Antony came to address Romans with the bloodstained knife and told them what happened. Then the Romans questioned him and asked him how he being the close friend of Caesar stabbed the latter. Antony said that he loved Caesar but his love for Rome was much more than that. I did likewise when I voted with the government. I love my party but I love the stability of my country. That was why I voted with the government for the amendment.

“We all are representatives of public. We have a duty by our people. It is the people who met our cost and the expenses of this House. So we must give priority to people and act according to their wishes.

“I have a great respect for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. People gave him a mandate to develop this country. I am sure that he would do that. He cannot do that being shackled by the 19th Amendment. You cannot expect a person whose hands are tied to swim against the current. We must set him free and then hope he would swim. People wanted to do away with the 19th amendment.  Therefore I voted to pass the 20th amendment.

“There could be criticisms against me. I do not care and am not afraid of them. I voted according to my conscience and I can sleep without worries.”