Ranil declines making comment on standing order

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today declined to make his controversial statement under the Standing Order 23-11 saying that he had not been notified by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa in writing about the amendments made to it. Mr. Wickremesinghe tried to make this statement last Tuesday.

However, the government objected to it on the grounds that it contained some matters pending before court. Later, the Speaker announced that he would give a ruling whether Mr. Wickremesinghe could make his statement after the omission of sentences contravening the Standing Orders.   

The Speaker’s ruling was communicated to the House by his deputy, Chandima Weerakkodi on Wednesday. The Speaker had ruled that Mr. Wickremesinghe could make his statement today with amendments. Accordingly, the Speaker asked Mr. Wickremesinghe to make his statement today soon after the question time. Mr. Wickremesinghe, however, remarked that the amended version of his statement had not been sent to him by the Speaker officially. (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)