Speaker condemns Minister and MP calling for mob violence against CC members as unconscionable

By Saman Indrajith

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena yesterday told Parliament that the conduct of Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and SLPP MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage promoted mob aggression against the Constitutional Council members.

At the time of the commencement of the sittings, the Speaker announced to the House that he was deeply concerned over the conduct of the Minister and MP for they both called on the public to surround the houses of the members of the Constitutional Council.

Speaker Abeywardena said Minister Rajapakshe and MP Aluthgamage endorsed mob aggression against Constitutional Council members.

The Speaker said that calling on the public to surround the residences of Constitutional Council members and agreeing to join such actions was not only unconscionable but also unethical. He said that such conduct could easily be seen as an abuse of parliamentary privileges.

Speaker Abeywardena said that the House would not tolerate such behaviour, and he emphasized that the Minister of Justice’s attempt to belittle the Constitutional Council reflected poorly on his position.