Sri Lanka Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Wednesday in strongest terms denounced the behavior of a few unruly lawmakers who disrupted the parliamentary session over the state minister Vijayakala Maheswaran’s statement yesterday when there was an important piece of legislation was to be debated.
Making a special statement in Parliament today, the Speaker said parliament should regret the message it is giving to the country when lawmakers with callous disregard to the welfare of people disrupting the session and attempting to damage the Maze, the supreme symbol of the parliament, while regulations under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority were to be passed.
The Speaker said he has done his utmost in taking action against State Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran for her statement that the outlawed terrorist organization, LTTE should be revived to curb crimes in the Northern Province.
“As soon as we heard the statement made by the Vijayakala Maheswaran, the state minister, I immediately realized the seriousness and took action to inquire into the issue. I took every possible action I can take as the Speaker,” he said.
The Speaker said action has been taken to obtain the tape of the state minister’s speech, translate it, and study, inform the leadership of her party and consult the Attorney General to conduct an inquiry.
Informing the Attorney General to take action against the State Minister was the best option he had in his capacity as the Head of the House.
“Under these circumstances it is sad to see that several MPs behaving in an unruly manner even after I have done my utmost to take action against Mrs. Maheswaran. Two MPs behaved in a most ugly manner using foul language. This action had tarnished the image of Sri Lankan Parliament that has a reputation as a model parliament in the world, the Speaker said.
