Standing orders:

Observed in the breach

The dignity and decorum of Parliament has been on the decline as evidenced from the instances of verbal exchanges using unparliamentarily language to throwing bottles and fisticuffs. Former Secretary General of Parliament Nihal Seneviratne told the Sunday Observer that the inadequacy of Standing Orders to firmly deal with such unwarranted situations is one of the major causes of indiscipline in the House.

He said these Standing Orders formulated decades ago, need updating to meet the challenge of passing times. Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Neil Iddawala confirmed that a decision has already been made to revise Standing Orders.