By Saman Indrajith

Opposition members of the UPFA yesterday walked out of the Chamber of Parliament protesting against what they called Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s use of unparliamentary language.

The group of MPs who walked off were led by NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa, NLF leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Udaya Gammanpila, Dullas Alahapperuma, Kumara Welgama, Johnston Fernando, Dinesh Gunawardena and Bandula Gunawardena

They said they left the chamber in protest against Prime Minister Wickremesinghe using words such as pimpiya (pimp) and ahikuntikaya (gypsy) to refer to Opposition members.

The protest was staged following an argument that disrupted sittings for more than 30 minutes on the very day a live telecast of parliament proceedings began.

When the House commenced its public business, MEP Leader Dinesh Gunawardena sought permission to make a statement under the provisions of the Section 17th of the Standing Orders. He said the matter was of national importance and pointed out the need for raising the matter.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya: You handed over the statement 10 minutes before Parliament commenced. I need time to study it.

MP Gunawardena: This is an issue of national importance. Please give me time only to raise the issue.

Leader of the House Minister Lakshman Kiriella: You cannot do so. There are procedures and we have to adhere to them. We have not been informed of such a statement.

Speaker Jayasuriya: I will let you raise this issue tomorrow. Be patient. There are parliamentary traditions. Let me study this. The matter has not yet been taken up even at the Party Leaders’ meeting. You have to raise it there.

MP Dr. Sarath Amunugama: This statement is on the country’s financial sector. We should permit the MP to raise this issue and let him make his statement.

Speaker Jayasuriya: I did not say that I would not permit him to make the statement. I need to look into the issue and thereafter I will give time.

Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake: This is a financial matter of national importance. Some employees of the Central Bank have been transferred. This Parliament has control over public finance. So, let the MP raise the issue today and the government can respond later. Or, the government can promise to respond tomorrow. Let the MP raise the issue.

MP Gunawardena: Those who gave evidence against the Governor of the Central Bank at the Bond Scam investigations have been transferred out. So, you should let me make this statement. I need only to present it to the House.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe: According to the parliamentary traditions, the statement should be handed over to the Speaker in writing in advance. Has the Speaker rejected permission to the MP?

Speaker Jayasuriya: No … no. I have not announced my decision.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe: So, the Speaker has not given a ruling. So, there is nothing to debate here.

The Opposition MPs shouted against the Prime Minister, accusing of him causing disturbances in the House. As government members attempted to outshout the protesters, a tense situation arose.

Speaker Jayasuriya: I promised to allocate time. Please be patient. We have just commenced the live telecast.

Some MPs in the opposition ranks stood up and demanded the permission to make the statement. They continued to stand up and shout.

Prime Minister: You cannot do anything until the Speaker gives his ruling over the matter.

As the situation turned chaotic with MPs of both sides shouting at each other, Speaker Jayasuriya suspended sittings for ten minutes at 1.17 pm. House resumed sittings at 1.54 pm.

Speaker Jayasuriya: I studied the statement of MP Gunawardena. It was only eight minutes before he handed the statement over to me. I will permit him to make the statement.

MP Gunawardena said: The Governor appointed to the Central Bank, with effect from January 2015, has acted in a manner in violation of the provisions of the Monetary Law Act 58 of 1949 and traditions of the Central Bank, leading to an unprecedented chaos in the banking sector. His conduct has resulted in the loss of the good name and credibility of the Central Bank.

Soon after the recent general election around 200 employees including senior staff officers, board members, and top officers of the Central Bank have been transferred abruptly. It was the first time in the Central Bank history such a number of officials have been transferred out. These transfers have resulted in loss of efficiency and performance of the Central Bank. Among those transferred were officials who gave evidence against the incumbent Governor during the recent investigations into a bond scam. The Central Bank employees are of the opinion that these transfers are an act of revenge. I hereby propose to this House that the matter be investigated and suspend immediately the transfers effected in the Central Bank after the general election.”

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said that the transfers that had been effected were routine. The Central Bank had been infested with some officials of dubious conduct and the place needed to be cleaned up. The Opposition, too, had pimpiyas among them. They came to parliament thanks to the SLFP vote.

At this point the opposition MPs got up and said that they would leave the House in protest against the Premier using the word, ‘pimpiyas’

Courtesy:The Island