Fracas over debate on CB Annual Report adjourns House unexpectedly

The adjournment debate on the Central Bank Annual Report 2012, which was scheduled to be held in Parliament yesterday, was unexpectedly suspended after members of the Opposition protested that a motion was to be moved by J.R.P. Suriyapperuma, a backbench MP from the Government.

Citing Parliamentary tradition and practice, UNP and DNA MPs urged Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to follow protocol and uphold what was agreed at the recent Party Leaders’ meeting with the motion to be moved by the Minister of Finance, or in his absence by Senior Minister of International Monetary Co-operation and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Sarath Amunugama or by Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management and Leader of the House of Parliament Nimal Siripala de Silva.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, who suspended Parliament for 10 minutes, decided to adjourn the House till 1 p.m. today. He said a decision would be made on the Central Bank Annual Report 2012 motion following the Party Leaders’ meeting scheduled for tomorrow.