Heated arguments over inclusion of Viggy’s statement in Hansard

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera  

Heated arguments erupted in the House yesterday over the inclusion of the statement made by Tamil People’s National Alliance MP C.V. Vigneswaran in the Hansard despite requests by the opposition to expunge them.  

Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Manusha Nanayakkara pointed out that he requested the Speaker to expunge from the Hansard the racial statements made by Mr. Vigneswaran in Parliament on the supremacy of the  Tamil Language and self determination of Tamil People. However, it was included in the Hansard.  
Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Nalin Bandara said MP Vigneswaran had violated the oath he took in Parliament not to support or advocate a separate state just after an hour and said he could even be removed as an MP for making such a statement.  

Government MP Shantha Bandara, who joined the cross talk, said there were occasions where statements made against the Constitution had been expunged from the Hansard in the past and requested the Speaker to expunge this statement in a similar manner.  

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardhane clarifying the inclusion of the statement in the hansard said any MP had a right to express their point of view in the House and said it was not against the Privileges Act.