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Prof. G.L. Peiris
By Maneshka Borham
Parliamentarian Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday charged that the right to speak in parliament for MPs belonging to his faction is being denied.
Raising a Privilege Issue in parliament yesterday Peiris said 13 MPs in the house are being purposefully denied this right.
“It is being done intentionally in an organised manner. This has been the situation since 30 August for a period of 22 days. We are unable to tolerate this anymore,” he said.
Peiris pointed out that according to practice a specific time slot is set aside if an MP wishes to express his views in parliament and the MP is informed of this.
“However a completely different policy is being adhered to relating to 13 MPs,” he claimed.
“Either a law or tradition that does not apply to other MPs is being implemented especially targeting these MPs,” he noted, adding that the MPs are being blocked from contributing to matters of importance.
“No issue can be resolved by silencing MPs. In the past several hours we noted the severe issues faced by the country, especially in relation to child malnutrition. It is the prime responsibility of members of parliament to sincerely present to the house the many issues faced by the people.
“To this end speaking rights are imperative. It is the core of parliamentary democracy,” he added.
Peiris called on the Speaker to resolve the issue in a week, thereby protecting the MPs speaking rights in parliament. The group has also written to the SAARC Parliamentary Association, Commonwealth Parliamentary Union and the Inter-Parliamentary Union regarding the matter. In the letter, the group pointed out that voters have assiduously safeguarded their right to change or re-elect governments at free and fair elections, regularly conducted under applicable laws.
“An essential corollary of this right is the ability of Members of Parliament to attend meetings of the Legislature uninterruptedly and to participate freely in its proceedings, including the work of Committees form an integral part of the legislative function.
“The diversity of opinion expressed in the Chamber in an atmosphere conducive to orderly interaction is, admittedly, an indispensable prerequisite for the proper performance of the legislative function,” the group said.
Explaining the faction’s reasons to cross the floor thereby breaking away from the main Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna group, the group in its letter said now they are being deprived of any opportunity to speak in the Chamber of Parliament and to take part in the deliberations of Committees.
“Others who have resorted to similar action recently in their relations with the Party have been accorded entirely different treatment, establishing discrimination in a stark form,” the letter said, requesting the organisations to intervene on their behalf.
