SJB holds an ‘alternative parliament sitting’

by Saman Indrajith

The SJB yesterday (06) held a meeting which they called an ‘alternative parliament’ after boycotting the parliamentary sittings in protest of the alleged ‘unruly conduct’ of the government MPs in the Parliament Chamber and the lobby last Friday (03) and Saturday (04).

The party boycotted yesterday’s Parliamentary sitting, saying that they would not attend the sittings until Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena ensured their safety inside and outside the Chamber.

A scuffle erupted in Parliament Chamber on 3 December when SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara requested more time to speak. MP Nanayakkara walking towards the Speaker’s chair caused a melee between government and Opposition MPs.  A tense situation arose again in Parliament on 4 November, when an exchange of words took place between opposition MP Manusha Nanayakkara and State Minister Kanchana Wijesekara in connection with the previous days’ incident.

Following the earlier two incidents, the SJB held a protest in front of the entrance of Parliament building yesterday (6) morning. Thereafter the SJB MPs met at the SJB Head Office for an ‘alternative parliamentary sitting’ and live broadcast their speeches prepared for yesterday’s Committee Stage Debate on social media channels.