Sacrilege!

In a first-of-a-kind fiasco, Sri Lankan Parliament is turned into a 'carnival ground':

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

For the first time in local parliamentary history, a group of UPFA Parliamentarians enacted an overnight drama in the well of the House, protesting against the Bribery Commission's decision to summon former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to record a statement.

The nearly 23 hour protest which commenced on Monday (April 20) around 10.40 am continued until the commencement of next day’s Parliamentary proceedings. The unparliamentary behaviour of the Opposition members raised doubts on the legitimacy of Parliamentary privileges that allowed them to enact such a big drama on the floor of the House.

Adjourned

Soon after the House was adjourned on Monday, nearly 50 UPFA MPs who approached the Speaker informed him of their decision to stage an overnight protest until an assurance was given by the Speaker to safeguard their privileges. However, UNP Parliamentarians and others expressed doubts on the right of Parliamentarians to resort to such moves under the pretext of privileges. The protest turned into a huge drama as certain MPs were seen imitating some prominent political figures while some were taking photographs and exchanging pleasantries with each other. The MPs were seen freely roaming within the Chamber. The MPs were seen going for lunch at the Parliament cafeteria batch by batch, while their colleagues were engaged in the protest.

Casual wear

The next episode commenced on Monday evening, when the MPs changed into casual wear. On the directive of Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, Serjeant-at-Arms, Anil Samarasekera and Parliament staff also had to wait round the clock due to the overnight protest.

The Serjeant-at-Arms and Parliament staff had arranged dinner and all other requirements for the MPs who were staging the protest. When the time reached 9.00pm, nearly 90 UPFA MPs had gathered in the well of the House including women Parliamentarians, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Malani Fonseka, Sumedha Jayasena and Kamala Ranatunga.

The MPs had dressed casually and some were in sarong and T-shirt, while the women MPs were dressed in T-shirts and denims, while some were wearing sarees. The number of MPs engaged in the protest rose to 110 at midnight.

Significantly, a group of SLFP MPs who had obtained ministerial portfolios from the new Government also joined the protest and stayed with their colleagues.

Cordial chat

UPFA General Secretary, Susil Premajayantha and SLFP General Secretary, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa also visited the MPs and had a cordial chat with the protesting MPs, although they did not participate in the protest themselves.

For the first time, Parliamentarians were served milk coffee and short- eats within the chamber at 10.00pm by the Parliament staff.

The drama reached a climax, when UPFA MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena attempted to imitate the Speaker's role while Deputy Speaker, Chandima Weerakkody was also among them. Later MP Abeygunawardena turned the drama into a musical show along with MPs Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Wimal Weerawansa, Dullas Alahapperuma, C.B.Ratnayake and T.B.Ekanayake who sang patriotic songs and other songs of popular artistes.

MP Abeygunawardena attempted to imitate Minister Reginald Cooray while MPs Mahindananada Aluthgamage and Wimal Weerawansa played the role of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. At the same time, a group of MPs including Janaka Wakkumbura , Ranjith Zoysa, Shehan Semasinghe and Upeksha Swarnamali were playing card games in the well of the House. MP Aluthgamage danced while singing a popular H.R. Jothipala number. MPs T.B.Ekanayake and Tissa Karalliyadda were seen meditating.

Sleeping

Once again the MPs were treated with milk coffee around 1.00 a.m. All MPs were sleeping on the red carpet of the Chamber around 2.30 a.m. Some MPs who woke up around 5.30 am, the following day had rushed to their homes to change, while some MPs had changed in the Parliament dressing room. Following the ruling given by the Speaker at the commencement of Tuesday's sittings, the Opposition MPs called off their 23 hours overnight protest which created a new record in the Parliament’s history.

The media reported on a missing of Rs.1.8 million worth ring belonging to a UPFA Parliamentarian who was engaging in the protest. However, the ring had been found by an employee of the Parliament Housekeeping section while cleaning the Members dressing room on April 21. After he informed his section Head, the ring had been given to its owner.

However, after the overnight protest by the Opposition members, some UNP Parliamentarians expressed concern about the incident.

Ethics

Asked if there is any breach of Parliament privileges due the protest, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ajith P. Perera told the Sunday Observer that this is not a violation of privileges but goes against the ethics of Parliamentary practices.

He alleged that liquor had been brought to the Chamber by some MPs. The Deputy Minister said that they are happy about this protest staged by the Opposition members, because it is a rare moment that crooks too could sleep on the Parliament’s red carpet.

Parliament sources declined to comment on this drama enacted by Opposition members. They said politicians and the public have expressed different opinions about the incident.

The Speaker has the responsibility to administer the House. It was a peaceful protest staged by the Opposition inside the chamber and the Speaker may advise Parliament staff to provide required facilities for the MPs who engaged in the protest, they said.

Deliberate attempts

UPFA Colombo District Parliamentarian, Bandula Gunawardane told the Sunday Observer that during the past 100 days of the Government, deliberate attempts were made to brand Opposition Parliamentarians as rogues, crooks and drug and ethanol dealers.

The Ministers of this minority Government have engaged in a mud slinging campaign to tarnish the image of UPFA MPs.

After the Presidential Election, a Prime Minister and a Cabinet has been appointed through the backdoor. The Central Bank has earlier filed a case against Finance Minister, Ravi Karunanayake on an alleged exchange fraud. But he is accusing others of corruption. Deliberate attempts are being made to undermine the dignity and decorum of the House.

The minority UNP Government is trying to teach us about parliamentary privileges and practices. "When amendments were introduced to the Paddy Fields Act, Opposition members were brutally attacked on the floor of the House by the then UNP MPs. It is absurd that those who have committed crimes and various wrongdoings are accusing others who have never resorted to such things.

The UNP can drive fear into young MPs by resorting to such petty things. But we are senior Parliamentarians who have even represented Parliament during the terror times of the late President R. Premadasa and the JVP, so we cannot be threatened", he said.