Not appropriate Prez

Parliament should go for a division by name or electronic voting to resolve the matter

President Maithripala Sirisena stressed at the party leaders’ meeting held yesterday that it was not appropriate and transparent to take a voice vote on a serious motion aimed at unseating a government.

Instead, he said Parliament should go for a division by name or electronic voting to resolve the matter. He said it was a system acceptable to the general public and the international community at large and that a voice vote was not transparent although Standing Orders provided for it.

The President, in his address, said that those who were educated would never endorse such a turbulent situation in Parliament. He requested both sides to strike a compromise and act with some understanding to avoid clashes. He also requested the parties represented at the meeting to refrain from bringing huge crowds to hold protests near Parliament.