Thajudeen’s death heats up Parliament

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

The controversial death of WasimThajudeen heated up Parliament yesterday forcing Speaker KaruJayasuriya to adjourn the Committee Stage Debate of the Appropriation Bill 2016 to today.

However, with the deliberations held with both sides, the Speaker convened the House at 6.10pm issuing a warning to the MPs for unruly behaviour, which by now has now become a frequent sight. The Speaker expunged certain parts of UNP MP Mujibur Rahuman’s speech, which caused the commotion.

With Rahuman identifying the alleged murder as “a systematic crime” that took place “during the Rajapakse regime” and indicating certain opposition MPs led to the uproar. UPFA Kurunegala District MP Johnston Fernando, UPFA Puttalam District MP Sanath Nishantha, and UPFA Gampaha District MP Indika Anuruddha Herath charged to attack MP Rahuman who was on feet addressing the House.

“They came to hit me. They have deprived an MP’s right to speak in the Parliament. First they threatened to hit UNP National List MP Prof.Ashu Marasinghe last week. Today Johnston Fernando, Sanath Nishantha, and Indika Anuruddha came to hit me. They want us to keep our mouths shut. Drug lords, thugs, and ethanol mafia members now hold seats in this Parliament. Ho. Speaker, you should be responsible if something happens to me outside the Parliament as a result of them threatening me,” charged MP Rahuman who was allowed to continue his speech after the House convened following the suspension.

Endorsing MP Rahuman’s charges and rejecting the attack, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera said, “This is the first time in the history of Parliament a member on feet was attacked. This shows how the Rajapaksas bring their terror inside the House.”

Although the seventh day of the Committee Stage Debate of the Appropriation Bill 2016 continued, the shadow opposition MPs who were disrupting the proceedings were later seen leaving the premises.