Dinesh suspended from Parliament

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday suspended Joint Opposition strongman MP Dinesh Gunawardena from Parliament for a week for his unruly behaviour. 

Gunawardena stood up to challenge the Speaker’s decision to reject the attempt of National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa and his party members to have the NFF recognised as a political party in Parliament rather than having them listed as independent members of the House.

Minister of Higher Education and Highways and Leader of the House of Parliament Lakshman Kiriella moved the motion to suspend Gunawardena. The decision, which was taken by name, received 85 votes in its favour and 22 against it. Three JVP members abstained from voting while 114 lawmakers were absent when the decision was made.

 Agreeing to the House decision, Gunawardena walked out, followed by fellow members of the Joint Opposition, who acted in support of him.

The provisions of Standing Order 74 (1) allow the Speaker to order members whose conduct is grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately from the Parliament during the remainder of the day’s sittings and also to take steps as required to enforce such an order. 

According to Ceylon Parliament history, Vavuniya MP C. Sundaralingam was removed from the House along with his chair in 1952. In 1955 Moratuwa MP Somaweera Chandrasiri was removed from Parliament for disobeying the Speaker during a debate. In 1956 Galle MP W. Dahanayake was removed from Parliament. In July 1960, Robert Gunawardana was carried out forcefully by the Sergeant at Arms and the staff following the Speaker’s order. In 1964 Welimada MP K.P.M. Rajaratna was also carried out of Parliament. 

The most recent such occasion was the removal of former parliamentarians Sarath Muththettuwegama and the Aberathna Pilapitiya from the House. Having submitted their nominations for a by-election in 1980, both had gone inside the Chamber and occupied their former seats. The Speaker, following the Standing Orders, removed both of them from the House. After a lapse of 37 years, MP Gunawardena joined this list today. (AH)