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| Sunday, 28 July 2002 |
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Politics | Today's Top Story |  |
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Opposition created tussle in the House - UNP spokesman by Deepal Warnakulasuriya and Don Asoka Wijewardena The Government and Opposition are trading accusations over last Wednesday's fisticuffs in Parliament, while Democracy activists described it as another black day in the country's Parliamentary history. UNP spokesman and Galle district MP Gayantha Karunathilleke said that the Opposition had arranged to create a tussle since the Premier was on a historic visit to United States the same day. "The Opposition wanted to prevent the public's attention going to the Premier's meeting with US President George W. Bush. Opposing the VAT Bill came as a second reason," MP Karunatilleke added. However, United National Party General Secretary Senarath Kapukotuwa told the media after the incident that a committee will be appointed to probe the incident and that disciplinary action will definitely be taken if any UNP MP is found to have been involved in the incident. People's Alliance Spokesman and Kandy District MP Dr. Sarath Amunugama explaining the incident said: "While the PA was conducting a legitimate, democratic protest, an MP from the government rushed forward and assaulted Opposition members. The speech of the Leader of the Opposition was disturbed. We were also accused of trying to grab the Mace." Dr.Amunugama also said that the UNP repeated its bad history again and also made false allegations against the PA MPs. But, UNP Spokesman Karunatilleke implied that no disciplinary action will be taken since they had already found out that the incident was a conspiracy staged by Opposition MPs. However, he did not explain how they probed it. "Banners, placards or processions are not allowed inside the House. Then, how did they violate the rule? MP Karunatilleke asked. Chief Organiser of the PA, Mangala Samaraweera told the Sunday Observer that the word 'disciplinary action' is always used by the UNP for safety's sake. "It is nothing but the 'craze for dictatorship'. UNP history is full of such crazy incidents. It is the same party that was responsible for MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara being severely assaulted in the House," he said. Samaraweera also added that he will be amazed if the UNP takes disciplinary action. When we contacted People's Liberation Front (JVP) Parliamentarian Nandana Gunathilleka, he said that they would like to see an independent probe being held into the matter and disciplinary action taken against the wrongdoers. "The UNP, we have realised does not have a history of keeping their word. Therefore disciplinary action will also be a dream," he said. Gunathilleke further added that the people who voted for these MPs were also responsible for the incident. He said he was worried about Sri Lankan voters not being educated enough to choose the best people to represent them. They still vote for 'mudalalis, thugs or relatives in the area, he said. The Sunday Observer also sought the views of human rights activists, former parliamentarians and political analysts. |
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