By Gagani Weerakoon and Skandha Gunasekara

An attempt by JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, to raise the issue of an alleged assault on Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the UK, Chris Nonis, in Parliament yesterday, proved futile with Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody not granting leave to proceed.

The Deputy Speaker prevented MP Dissanayake, on the grounds that the statement was against Standing Orders, when the latter tried to make a special statement on the matter under Standing Order 23-2.

“If you want to raise the issue, you have to do it through a substantive motion,” the Deputy Speaker told the DNA Parliamentary group leader.

The JVP MP had asked permission from the Speaker to make the statement under 23/2 of Standing Orders which says “a matter of public importance may be asked at the conclusion of questions by the Leader of the Opposition or a leader of a recognized political party after due notice has been given to the minister concerned.”

The MP was advised to amend the statement and present it if he so wished. The incident occurred when MP Dissanayake raised a Point of Order seeking whether he could proceed with the statement.

Deputy Speaker: The Speaker’s ruling on the statement you were planning to make had been delivered to your office address.

MP Dissanayake: Usually we receive such responses here in Parliament. Anyway all I want to know is whether Lankan Ambassador Nonis had been assaulted or not.

Deputy Speaker: No response could be given and such a question cannot be raised today. You are permitted to raise the issue through a substantive motion.

Courtesy:Ceylon Today