Speaker insists on NCM Govt. insists on ceremony

MEETING TENSE WITH ARGUMENTS AND COUNTER-ARGUMENTS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, at a meeting with the political party representatives yesterday, insisted that the No Confidence Motion against Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa should be taken up for debate and vote on

Novembers 14, it is learnt.

However, Government representatives were opposed to it and said only the ceremonial opening of Parliament should take place on that day.

They said the Speaker should act in conformity with the Standing Orders and the Constitution, otherwise, he would be held accountable for Constitutional violations in the future.

The ruling side said that the Government businesses should be prioritised in Parliament. The Speaker is reported to have said that he could no longer carry on with this crisis situation, and therefore the No Confidence Motion should be taken up on November 14 to clearly see which party had majority support in the House.

The meeting was tense with arguments and counter-arguments between the Government and Opposition representatives.

The Speaker said he would prepare the agenda.

“If anyone does not agree with the agenda for the day, it can be put to a vote and defeated,” he said.

They said the Speaker should act in conformity with the Standing Orders and the Constitution, otherwise, he would be held accountable for Constitutional violations in the future