Dinesh criticises question posed to PM

Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardane struck a note of criticism at the office of the Secretary General of Parliament for referring a question for oral answers to the Prime Minister instead referring it to the subject minister.

In the Order Paper, the question about the university students and their Mahapola bursaries had been directed at the Prime Minister.

However, Mr. Gunawardane said that the question should have been posed to the Higher Education Minister.

UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake who asked the question said that the subject ministers keep on changing every time under the present government, and therefore, he referred it to the Prime Minister assigned to answer any question on behalf of the ruling coalition. 

Cross talks ensued between the UNP MP and the Chief Whip in this regard. Later, Mr. Gunawardane angrily remarked that the office of the Secretary General of Parliament should have acted properly in this regard.

“Questions are handed over to the office. Then, they should be referred to the relevant ministers,” he said. (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)