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| Sunday, 22 June 2003 |
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Full-scale probe into mock funeral in House by DON ASOKA WIJEWARDENA The Chief Government Whip, Mahinda Samarasinghe, has requested the Speaker Joseph Michael Perera to conduct a full-scale inquiry into the incident in which some PA and JVP members (MPs), Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Thilina Bandara Tennakoon, C. B. Ratnayaka, Jagath Pushpakumara and Vijitha Muni Soysa wearing black shirts had brought in a mini coffin with a wreath to the House. Minister Samarasinghe has also requested the Speaker to conduct a thorough search of the parliament premises with the assistance of STF using snipper dogs as the government was under the impression that some members of the Opposition had brought in weapons with the mock coffin. This was staged in protest against the recent political killings. Secretary General of Parliament, Priyani Wijesekara, told the "Sunday Observer" that it was an unusual incident in the parliamentary history of Sri Lanka where a mock coffin had been brought in despite the high security system was in operation. She said that the sessions of parliament had to be suspended by the Speaker for about 2 1/2 hours when that incident took place and added that on the directive of the Speaker the Parliamentary Privilege Committee (PPC) would conduct a full scale inquiry and take action against security lapses, breach of parliamentary ethics or procedures. Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, Dammika Dasanayaka, said that the incident had caused a commotion of serious nature as some Government members who were indignant denounced the rebellious attitude of certain Opposition members. When asked about whether it was a security failure or "forced-entry" into the House, Dasanayaka said that in accordance with the parliamentary procedures, a ruling party member should raise the matter to the attention of the Speaker who would then refer it to the Parliamentary Privilege Committee for a full- scale inquiry. "It is the responsibility of the PPC to take disciplinary action after such an inquiry whether it was a breach of conduct or contempt of the House," Dasanayaka said. |
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