Two outbursts over attire in Parliament
References to the attire of MPs caused heated exchanges in Parliament on two separate occasions this week.
On Tuesday, as protests erupted in the House when the Government presented the 20th Amendment, several Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs raised issue over the attire worn by Digamadulla District National Congress M PALM Athaullah.
Raising a point of order, SJB parliamentarian Nalin Bandara noted that Mr Athaullah's attire violated the dress code prescribed for MPs under Parliament's Standing Orders. Several other SJ BMPs, including SM Marikkar, Harin Fernando and Dilip Wedaarachchi also raised objections, with Mr Fernando unfastening some buttons on his shirt and Mr Wedaarachchi raising his sarong up to a thigh in protest to emphasise the point of order they were making.
Mr Athaullah, who was wearing a long sleeved kurta top and an Afghan Pashtun vest over it, initially had the vest unbuttoned. He left the Chamber after Parliament's Sergeant-at-Arms and his deputy went over and spoke to him. He later returned with the buttons on his vest fastened. Parliament was later informed that the Speaker had allowed Mr Athaullah to wear the attire on that day only due to a medical condition he claimed to have.
The matter would have ended there, but later in the week, video from inside the Chamber emerged showing some SJB MPs shouting ugly insults at Mr Athaullah, including calling him ' Al- Qaeda,' ' ISIS' and ' Zahran.' The fact that SJB MPs were effectively labelling someone a ' terrorist' because of his choice of attire, however ill- advised it may have been, reflects poorly on a party which has often accused the Government of promoting anti-Muslim rhetoric.
Another heated exchange over attire occurred on Friday when Justice Minister Ali Sabry reacted angrily to a comment made by SJB parliamentarian Chaminda Wijesiri over his attire.
Mr Wijesiri had been asking a question related to the case over alleged forced sterilisations against Dr Sharfi Shihabdeen of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital from the Justice Minister when he made a reference to Mr Sabry as a ' tie- coat wearing Minister.' The comment provoked a furious reaction from Mr Sabry, who asked the SJB parliamentarian whether he should dress according to how they want. He also accused the
SJB of trying to incite racism. The reference to ‘tie-coat’ being “racist” was however lost on everyone.
SJB MPs in turn, accused the Minister of acting like a thug. SJB parliamentarian Harsha de Silva asked the Minister to conform to Parliamentary traditions and not wag his finger and shout angrily at MPs.
"I was only reacting to the reference made to my attire, but if my behaviour caused any discomfort, I would like to apologise. I have no problem with that," Mr Sabry said.