By
Gagani Weerakoon
Sittings of Parliament were suspended for half an hour yesterday when the government objected to moving an adjournment motion by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) over alleged land grabbing in the North.
When TNA Leader, R. Sampanthan, got up to move the motion, UPFA Parliamentarian, A.H.M. Azwer, raising a Point of Order with regard to the motion, said it could not be debated in the House as the matter was sub judice.
“There are seven cases (Nos. 177/2013, 178/2013, 179/2013, 180/2013, 236/2013, 237/2013 and 238/2013) pending before the Supreme Court and three writ petitions (Nos 125/2013, 135/2013 and 205/2013) have been filed before the Court of Appeal with regard to the matter being raised by MP Sampanthan. Of all these cases, the Minister of Lands has been named as a main respondent. Therefore, the motion cannot be debated here, it is sub judice,” MP Azwer said.
However, this led to a debate in the House whether the motion should be granted leave to proceed or not.
UNP Colombo District MP, Ravi Karunanayake: “MP Sampanthan handed over his motion some three months ago. This motion is not about a criminal case.”
DNA Parliamentary Group Leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake: “This motion was discussed at the Party Leaders’ meeting. None of these issues were raised then. It was agreed there to take the land grab issue for debate. Now, when the motion is being moved, the government tries to get away without debating it. We demand that this has to be debated.”
Chief Opposition Whip, John Amaratunga: “We could have taken it seriously had the Leader of the House or the Chief Government Whip opposed it.”
Leader of the House, Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva: “It is true that we agreed at the Party Leaders’ meeting to permit MP Sampanthan to move this motion. But that does not debar an MP from questioning the content of the motion here in the Chamber.”
UNP National List MP, Joseph Michael Perera: “This motion must be allowed to move. It was sent to the government some months ago.”
Chief Government Whip, Minister of Water Supply and Drainage, Dinesh Gunawardena: “If it’s a matter of sub judice it is up to the Chair to give a ruling.”
The Chair suspended the sittings for five minutes around 2:15 p.m. to give its ruling. The House resumed sittings at 2:45 p.m.
When the House resumed sittings, Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody said the issue had been discussed with the Party Leaders, and MP Sampanthan had agreed to leave out matters pertaining to lands in the Valikamam area, which is the subject of the cases being heard where the Land Minister had been named a respondent. “Under that condition, I permit the motion to be moved and the debate to continue.”
COURTESY:CEYLON TODAY