Govt organised protest against CJ, says UNP

5 December 2012 03:31 am

A demonstration had been organised near the parliamentary complex to protest and vilify Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake on her way to the House to appear before the Select Committee probing charges against her.

The Opposition charged that the government had shamelessly mobilised slum dwellers and taxi drivers to vilify the Chief Justice in this manner.

UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara, who spoke during the committee stage debate, charged that these slum dwellers had been brought to Jayanthipura Junction to stage this protest from the Peliyagoda area. The UNP MP also charged that lunch was served to these protesters from the parliamentary canteen under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Agriculture.

“The Peliyagoda Mayor nicknamed Kane mile has brought these people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga and UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake also raised questions of privilege on the grounds that they were inconvenienced on their way to attend yesterday’s parliamentary sittings by these protesters.  

“An MP should have unhindered access to Parliament on sitting days. We were obstructed on the way by these protesters,” he said.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa  agreed to look into the matter. (KB,YP)