Parliament crisis: Ranil proposes way out

By Saman Indrajith

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday (7) thanked UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe for proposing a solution to the crisis prevailing in the House following alleged assault on Galle District SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara by government MPs.

UNP Leader Wickremesinghe proposed that the Speaker should immediately name the MPs from the government and the Opposition ranks for the committee to investigate the alleged incidents in Parliament last Friday and Saturday. “They could sit together and decide a way out. That is the best option before you with regard to this matter.”

Chief Government Whip: We are thankful to the UNP leader for proposing a solution to the crisis and attending Parliament today soon after your return to the country. I was contacted by an SJB MP, who said Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa was disturbed by your presence in the House today. Your attendance of Parliament compensates for the absence of the entire SJB group. So, they may return to the House earlier than expected before it becomes known that they are redundant.”

The Chief Whip brought to the notice of the Chair that TNA MP Charles Nirmalanathan who is in the opposition ranks has complained that he was continuously overlooked when time was allocated for the Opposition MPs to speak. “So much for the internal democracy of the Opposition. Today, the JVP with only three members has got time for two of them and this is not fair.

Leader of the House, Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that UNP leader and former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe was the best person to guide the SJB and Opposition. “Now, there are only a few opposition parties while the SJB is absent. You are the acting Opposition Leader in this House with your calibre and experience. You can use that to instruct the Opposition MPs protesting out there to return to the chamber and take part in the debate. You have all the qualifications to advise the entire Opposition.”

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena called on MPs to attend Parliament sessions and undertook to appoint a committee to look into the recent incidents and submit a report. The committee would consist of senior members of both sides. “We could not yet contact some members who have been nominated to know whether they would accept the responsibility. I hope to contact and speak to them and most probably we could announce the names for the committee on Wednesday.”

The UNP, the TNA, the JVP, the SLMC, Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera and SJB MPs who had voted with the government in recent votes in Parliament including Diana Gamage were present in the House.