Speaker must not be partisan

Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said the Speaker must be non-partisan but by issuing a statement challenging the actions of President Maithripala Sirisema, he had acted like the speaker of the UNP.

“The statement issued yesterday by the Speaker was not only unconstitutional but also politically motivated and creates unnecessary problems for the government, the legislature and the President,” he said. The minister told a news briefing that the Speaker had convened unofficial meetings of parliamentarians twice under pressure from the UNP.

“Only the President can convene Parliament after a prorogation under the provisions of the Constitution.you may remember that the President prorogued Parliament after the local government polls earlier this year. He has issued a second gazette announcing the ceremonial sitting on November

14.As such the Speaker must not pressure the staff by giving orders to make incorrect seating arrangements for the ceremonial sitting,” he said.

He said allowing the UNP to have a party meeting during the prorogation was also illegal and against the Parliament Standing Orders.

Education and Higher Education Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe said Speaker Jayasuriya did not question about the majority of the government when he crossed over with 18 other members to the government side from the UNP in January 2017.

“All Presidents have prorogued Parliament and appointed Prime Ministers at their discretion. No one can challenge it. If the UNP has any problem with the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as the PM, they must seek the opinion of the Supreme Court. In January 2015, Ranil was appointed Prime Minister when the UNP had only 47 seats and Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne had the support of 167 MPS. Besides, President Sirisena has prorogued Parliament only for 17 days which is one of the shortest,” he said. “The Speaker has no power to convene Parliament during a prorogation but only under normal circumstances with the approval of the prime minister