Uproar in parliament after Ranjan’s seat annulled

• uproar began when Opposition Leader objected to speaker’s decision

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

Parliament went into an uproar yesterday when the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) stormed into the Speaker’s Chair against the latter’s decision to inform the Commission of Elections that MP Ranjan Ramanayake has ceased to be an MP.   

The uproar began when Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa objected to the decision.  

“You did not allow us to move the leave motion of Mr. Ramanayake in March this year. Also you did not allow us to move it on Tuesday when we moved it saying you will look into legal provisions before informing the Chairman of Election Commission. However you have secretly made your decision,” Mr. Premadasa charged.  

The Speaker who responded said that he made the decision after consulting the Attorney General and studying the constitutional provisions. MP Nimal Lansa said the SJB MPs do not have the right to challenge a ruling given by the Speaker. “ You people are fighting on behalf of a womanizer,” he told the SJB MPs.  

Heated argument cropped up while the opposition MPs stormed into the Speaker’s Chair. However the government MPs prevented the SJB MPs by forming a ring around the Speaker.