{"id":13223,"date":"2012-12-07T18:52:59","date_gmt":"2012-12-07T23:52:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=13223"},"modified":"2012-12-07T18:53:14","modified_gmt":"2012-12-07T23:53:14","slug":"entire-opposition-walks-out-of-parliament-protesting-against-unfair-impeachment-of-chief-justice-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=13223","title":{"rendered":"Entire Opposition Walks out of Parliament Protesting Against Unfair Impeachment of Chief Justice Process"},"content":{"rendered":"

By<\/p>\n

Gagani Weerakoon<\/strong> <\/p>\n

The entire Opposition walked out of the Chamber en mass, protesting the unfair process of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe allegations mentioned in the impeachment motion against Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake. The MPs of the United National Party (UNP), the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) walked out of the chamber around 3:35 p.m., even as those in government ranks loudly accused them of orchestrating a plot hatched outside Parliament.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Opposition MPs walked out during the Committee Stage debate of the Budget, on the Votes of the expenditure of the Defence Ministry. DNA MP, Vijitha Herath, who was addressing the House before the walkout, said all who believe in democracy must condemn the PSC’s ex parte process.<\/p>\n

“The national security of the country is at stake when there is no independent Judiciary. The Parliamentary Select Committee had become useless and treated shabbily the highest position in the judicial system. The government capitalizing on the two-thirds’ majority it had secured through political manoeuvrs, but not through a people’s mandate, now exerts its influence on the Judiciary, this must be condemned,” he said.
\nUnited Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Arundika Fernando raised a Point of Order to point out that it was the Defence Ministry Vote and MP Herath was talking about some other issue.<\/p>\n

“There is a plot hatched outside this Chamber to stage a demonstration. This speech is a part of that. I request the Chair not to allow this MP to continue talking on issues outside the matter at hand. That is against Standing Orders,” MP Fernando said.<\/p>\n

MP Herath shot back saying that when an MP had a smaller brain and a larger body, he could not understand what others talk, and insisted that he was talking about security issues.
\nAt this point, government MPs, especially the backbenchers, got up from their seats and started creating a din, with presiding member, Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody, trying to bring the situation under control shouting ‘Order’ and ‘Order in the House please.’<\/p>\n

UNP Kurunegala District MP, Dayasiri Jayasekara, raising a Point of Order said it was against the Standing Orders for members to disturb and shout when a member is addressing the House and requested the Deputy Speaker to order the MPs to take their seats.<\/p>\n

Coconut Development Minister, Jagath Pushpakumara, was seen thumping at his desk and shouting while his junior colleagues were shouting that the JVPers were killers.
\nAs the Deputy Speaker managed to get the House calm down, Minister of Prisons and Prisons Reforms, Chandrasiri Gajadeera raised a Point of Order and said MP Herath was talking outside the topic and that was also in violation of the Standing Orders.<\/p>\n

MP Sujeewa Senasinghe got up and raised a Point of Order and referred to Standing Order Clause 85 that says the House must remain silent when a member stands up and speaks.
\nMP Hearth continued with his speech while MPs of both sides hurled verbal abuse at each other and indulged in name-calling.<\/p>\n

Suddenly around 3:35 p.m., MP Herath said the Opposition would walk out of the Chamber in protest against the PSC’s intention of handing over an ex-parte decision on the Chief Justice which was not democratic.<\/p>\n

Soon after Opposition members walked out, Minister John Seneviratne got up and said what the Opposition had done was only part of a planned event aimed at bringing disrepute to Parliament.COURTESY:CEYLON TODAY<\/em><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Gagani Weerakoon The entire Opposition walked out of the Chamber en mass, protesting the unfair process of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to probe allegations mentioned in the impeachment motion against Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake. The MPs of the United National Party (UNP), the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) and the Tamil National …<\/p>\n

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