Report on House brawls will be presented to P’ment: Speaker

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday pledged to Parliament that he would table the investigative report regarding the chaos that occurred in the House on 14 and 15 November as soon as investigators handed him their findings.

Notifying the House last morning, the Speaker held that he had appointed a group of lawmakers representing all political parties in the 8th Parliament to conduct an in-depth investigation in addition to the investigation conducted by parliamentary police.

“The Police is investigating the chaos in Parliament which took place on 14 and 15 November. In addition, a group led by the Deputy Speaker and the Chair of Committees Ananda Kumarasiri will conduct a separate investigation,” held Speaker Jayasuriya.

The Speaker appointed a six-member investigation committee, including the former Speaker UPFA MP Chamal Rajapaksa, UNP MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara, UPFA MP Chandrasiri Gajadeera, JVP MP Bimal Rathnayaka and ITAK MP Mavai Senathirajah.

The Speaker also explained the reasons for summoning Police inside the Chamber during the days of chaos.  “Due to the seriousness of the chaos on 14, 15, and 16 November, I had to summon police to protect the lawmakers. I will immediately stop providing additional police protection to lawmakers in the lobbies and in the Chamber provided an assurance is given that there will be no incidents,” explained Speaker.

On 14 November the group, including the UNP, JVP and TNA, had a landmark victory in Parliament, receiving 122 votes supporting the no confidence motion moved against the President appointed Prime Minister, UPFA MP Mahinda Rajapaksa. ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran moved a motion seeking House approval to proceed, suspending the Standing Orders of Parliament in the absence of an Order Paper and schedule for the day’s business in the House. 

The political deadlock continued for the second day in the Parliament on the 15 November with both the Wickremesinghe and the Rajapaksa camps clashing with each other, damaging public property, using foul language to insult Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and throwing things at the Chair. The tense situation commenced with Speaker Jayasuriya being greeted by hoots from the Rajapaksa camp before UPFA MP Thilanga Sumathipala was seen rushing to the Speaker’s Chair and engaging in a heated argument.

MP Sumathipala was followed by a group of UPFA MPs and in a while the Speaker was under complete siege. UNP MPs Ranjan Ramanayake, Kavinda Jayawardena, Kabir Hashim, Hector Appuhamy, Asoka Abeysinghe and Mangala Samaraweera also rushed near the Speaker’s Chair and formed a protective ring. 

Parliamentarians exchanged blows near the Speaker’s Chair while Serjeant-at-Arms Narendra Fernando held the Mace in his hand to prevent the MPs from grabbing it. A water bottle, dustbin and copy of the Constitution were among the items thrown at the Speaker by the UPFA MPs. Meanwhile, MPs Prasanna Ranaweera, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Harin Fernando and Naveen Dissanayake were seen exchanging heavy blows. (AH)