SLFP Ministers unhappy...

The party leaders, at the Business Committee Meeting of Parliament, discussed this motion after persistent demands by the opposition members that it should be debated immediately. Some senior members of the opposition were agreeable to amend the motion so that it could be put to the debate in a manner acceptable to the UNP. The UNP insisted that references to the Prime Minister should be done away with. However, MPs such as Bandula Gunawardane, Wimal Weerawansa , Kumara Welgama and others were not flexible in this respect. Their persistent demand resulted in the adjournment of Parliament twice on Tuesday, and the premature conclusion at 3.00p.m. on that day. Pressure is being mounted on the government to advance the dissolution of Parliament. But, the President has announced that it would be dissolved soon after the Constitutional Council was formed in terms of 19 A. It is to be completed within two weeks, according to the government. The next

Parliament would be formed in September.

- DEPUTY SPEAKER, ERIC CONCERNED ABOUT GOVT CLAIMING CREDIT

During the question time on Tuesday, Kandy District UPFA MP Eric Prasanna Weerawardane expressed his disappointment about the new government opening school buildings constructed by him during the last government. “I worked hard for five years to complete the work of a school building with modern facilities in my Harispattuwa electorate. Now, it has been opened by the the new government even without mentioning my name. This is a serious situation. They open what we did and get the credit,” he said. Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkodi who was presiding said, “I have the same problem in my electorate. It is a matter of concern for all of us. This is not the time for you to raise it. I am asking you to follow the Standing Order and act accordingly.

- BUDDHIKA, ERIC PERTURBED BY DWINDLING OF JACKALS AND CROWS

Tuesday’s question time of Parliament was filled with amusement as UNP MP Buddhika Pathirana raised concerns about the dwindling of the number of crows in the wild. This, he said, has disrupted the food chain. “Normally, crows feast on peacock eggs. The crow population has dwindled in the wild. So, the peacock population has increased. The number of monkeys has also increased,” he said. He was backed by UPFA MP for the Kandy district Eric Prasanna Weerawardane. He said the decline of the jackal population had led to the rise of wild boars. There was laughter among members across the divide in the House.