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COVID-19 rules violated in Parliament: Opposition

20 October 2020 08:21 pm - 4     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Heated arguments erupted in the House when the Opposition raised objections to the convening of Parliament saying it violated the Gazette notice on COVID-19 regulations.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa pointed out that convening Parliament violated the COVID-19 regulation that calls for the maintaining of the 1-metre physical distancing and the wearing of face masks.

He asked whether there was one law for MPs and another for the people and requested the Speaker to implement the regulations as gazetted.

“Even you are not wearing a face mask, hounable Speaker,” he said adding that Parliament should be convened only after re-arranging the seats so as to maintain the required physical distancing.

Health Minister Pavithra Vanniarachchi said Parliament was not a public place according to the interpretation of a public place as given in the gazette and said only outdoor places are considered as public places.

House Leader Dinesh Gunawardane said it was agreed by the party leaders at the business committee meeting to convene Parliament and the matters to be taken up in the House this week were approved at the meeting.(Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)


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  • BigEars Tuesday, 20 October 2020 09:37 PM

    I agree with the leader of the opposition on his take on this. I am no Telephone supporter except for my iPhone. The Health Minister is all bananas and talks nonsense. When things go well it is " on the instructions of the Hon. President". When thing go bad, no mention of the Hon. President. The side effects of the 20A.

    Samson Tuesday, 20 October 2020 09:39 PM

    Parliament represents the people and how can it be a private place and not public. If Pavithra is correct why cant we have meetings in our halls and auditoriums. What does she means by outdoor places?

    critical Tuesday, 20 October 2020 10:05 PM

    They are the legislators and only we have to follow the legislation and they are above it.

    Buddhist Wednesday, 21 October 2020 01:50 AM

    When Constitution is violated in Parliament, violating Covid rules is nothing.


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