Anura prevented from raising DPL assault

By Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was yesterday prevented from raising a question under Parliament Standing Order 23/2 regarding the assault on Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in London Chris Nonis.

According to the usual practice, party leaders in parliament can raise matters of public interest in the form of a question under this particular Standing Order. Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody who presided over the House did not allow Mr. Dissanayake to raise it on the basis that he made references to a parliamentarian on the assault.
He said the JVP leader could raise it only through a substantive motion if any references were made regarding another MP.  Mr. Dissanayake said there was no use of being in Parliament if even the assault on a High Commissioner could not be taken up in it.
Dr. Nonis was allegedly assaulted after a skirmish with Monitoring MP of the External Affairs Ministry Sajin de Vaas Gunawardane during a dinner hosted by a Sri Lankan in New York recently.