Mannapperuma accuses Speaker of bias in suspension

Friday, 20 October 2023 01:54 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Gampaha District MP Ajith Mannapperuma says Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena should have suspended the Minister of Public Security, Tiran Alles, instead of him, as Alles disregarded the Speaker’s directive to respond the question posed by Mannapperuma during the allocated Question time.

Addressing the media following his suspension, the SJB MP accused the Speaker of biased behaviour by not taking any action against the Minister but suspending him for four weeks for merely touching the Mace.

In his explanation of the situation that unfolded, the MP clarified that the questions had been submitted to the Government six months in advance and had been included in the parliamentary agenda for the day in question.

“Only 10 MPs are granted the opportunity to present their questions, and it has been determined that Question Time should conclude at 10.30 a.m. However, due to the Speaker’s mismanagement of the proceedings, my question, which was the first one, was permitted to be asked only at 10.35 a.m.,” he explained.

According to the MP, while the Speaker to his credit allowed the question to be asked, the Minister of Public Security avoided responding to it.

“He blatantly disregarded the Speaker’s repeated instructions to respond to the question for as long as 10 minutes and abruptly exited the chamber when Opposition MPs began shouting,” he noted.

“The Speaker should suspend Tiran Alles and not me, as it was Tiran Alles who disregarded his directives,” Mannapperuma added.

The MP pointed out that trust in Parliament can erode when Ministers, despite their presence at the parliamentary sessions, casually decline to address the questions put forth on behalf of the people.

Commenting on the commotion that ensued, the MP maintained it is the responsibility of MPs to express their dissent when it appears that their opportunity to address the concerns of the people in Parliament is deliberately being denied.

He admitted to touching the Mace but said it was not intentional. “I was merely opposing the actions of the Speaker and the Minister. I do not accept I did anything wrong,” he said.