MPs have heated debate for lunch

Given the scale of the current economic crisis, the people are watching Parliament proceedings intently to see how their lawmakers plan to resolve the country’s pressing issues.

Anyone looking to Parliament for a quick solution though, would have been disappointed at the way the MPs preferred to hurl insults at each other rather than debate serious policy issues. On Wednesday, MPs even got into a heated debate on whether to break for lunch, or not.

When Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa proposed that MPs forgo their lunch break and continue the debate on the Police shooting in Rambukkana, House Leader Dinesh Gunawardena said such a move went against what the Opposition Leader himself agreed to during the earlier party leaders’ meeting.

“We agreed to continue the debate on the following day depending on new information that comes to light,” Mr Gunawardena said.

“That is not what this is about. When people in the country are going hungry, how can those here insist on breaking for lunch? Let them go and eat if they want, but let us continue with our debate,” an incensed Mr Premadasa shot back.

The Opposition Leader found an unlikely ally in former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella.

“Given how the situation has now changed, there is no point in talking about the lunch break. This is shameful talk. Please allow the debate to continue,” he told the Speaker.

A clearly rattled Mr Gunawardena then said the Government had no objection to continuing without the lunch break.

“But see how many of them (Opposition MPs) will actually stay during the break. This is all for show,” he added as a parting shot.

The final word on the matter may have come from the former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who later said the people want all 225 MPs booted out so they may have to go and have their lunch in the future at Galle Face.