Stormy session at CMC

The Colombo Municipal Council sessions went into chaos yesterday as a result of a heated argument between UNP member M. Sharafdeen and Opposition Leader Ajantha Liyanage over religion.

The argument began when Mr. Sharafdeen objected to Mr. Liyanage’s criticising the remark by UNP MP Joseph Michael Perera to the effect that the government was responsible for the recent terrorist attack on Boddhagaya. Mr. Liyanage said the MP should not have made such a comment.

Mr. Sharafdeen said no one had spoken of the burning of a lorry near a meat stall in Dematagoda and no one has been arrested for the crime.

The two members began to argue and other members joined in.

Both members were fuming with rage and began to bang books on their tables.

The argument was a result of my allowing the members to talk out of point and I apologise for it

Deputy Mayor Titus Perera, who was in the chair at that time, took responsibility for the fracas saying it was his fault for allowing the members to speak outside the subject that was being debated. “The argument was a result of my allowing the members to talk out of point and I apologise for it,” he said.

The sessions continued in a more orderly manner after

wards.