Video: Parliament suspended for 10 minutes

22 October 2015 08:28 am

Parliament sessions were suspended for a brief period due to a tense situation over a dispute that arose over a list of speakers of the debate on the UN Human Rights Commission report.

The situation arose when Opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa objected to the pattern to which the debate would be conducted where government MPs were given speeches instead of the common practice of shifting speeches from government and opposition MPs.

Then MP Dinesh Gunawardene joined in the cross talk. MP Mijibur Rahaman who was at the chair said he was following the list which was given to him.

It was revealed that Mr. Weerawansa's name was at the end of the list.

However, Mr. Rahaman had to adjourn the House for a brief period due to a tense situation that arose.

Later when the sessions resumed, Mr. Weerawansa was given the opportunity to speak.

Mr. Gunawardene who rose when the sessions began tendered an apology for preventing Minister Swaminathan was speaking. The objection was made by the opposition when the minister was given a speech. (YP)