Threats had led to House TV feed cut: Speaker

19 February 2014 02:42 am

Live telecasts of Parliament proceedings have been suspended by PEO TV Chief Executive Officer following threats he had received from certain persons against whom some MPs had made allegations during debates, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa informed the House yesterday.

“Certain individuals against whom MPs had made allegations during parliamentary proceedings had phoned the PEO TV chief and threatened him with legal action if the channel continued with live telecasts,” the Speaker said.

However, the Speaker assured that he would sign an agreement with PEO TV and resume live telecasts of Parliament proceedings soon.

The Speaker made this point when Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated him on his election to the Standing Committee of Asian region of the Speakers’ Conference.  Mr. Wickremesinghe while congratulating the speaker said live telecasts of Parliament proceedings were stopped while he was attending the conference in New Zealand.

“Live telecasts were stopped while you were away,” Mr. Wickremesinghe told Speaker.

Leader of the House Nimal Siripala De Silva also congratulated the speaker on his election to the Standing Committee of Speakers’ Conference. (Yohan Perera)