Education Minister gives lesson on how to cut through traffic

It’s not often we see a government minister hopping on the pillion of a bike to hitch a ride to Parliament.

So when the youthful Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam did it on Tuesday to head to the legislature in a hurry after his ministerial escort was stuck in heavy traffic at the Parliament road due to a protest by pensioners, it made big news.

The Minister decided to ditch his luxury vehicle and hop on the nearest two wheeler to cut through the traffic. “I was stuck in traffic for nearly an hour and got off the vehicle as I had to get to the House on time. There was a scooter that was going by. I put my hand out and asked the boy to drop me off near Parliament as I had to get there in a hurry,” the Minister said.

The young man had been in a bit of a shock but had obliged. The security, keeping to their duty, started running behind the bike, but the Minster had asked his security escort to take their time and come once the traffic cleared. The scooter cut through the traffic and the Minister managed to get to the House on time with files that were needed to answer three questions that had been listed under his name. On arrival in parliament, a journalist noticing the minister without the helmet pointed out he would have to pay a fine for the offence. The minister quipped, 'No it’s not me, but the rider who brought me'.

However, not all who were stuck in traffic were as that sporty.

UPFA Parliamentarian Chandima Weerakkody who was stuck in traffic raised a privilege issue from the Floor of the House and complained that he had been obstructed from coming to Parliament, a matter that comes under the outdated Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act. Given the number of protests that take place near the Parliament area, it is best that MPs get used to hitching motorcycle rides in future to cut through the traffic.