Democratic Left Front Leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe embroiled themselves in a heated exchange of words in Parliament today.

The two leaders started the dust up with each other during cross talk over the request for an urgent debate in the House on the report by the panel of lawyers who examined the controversial Central Bank bond issue.

Mr. Nanayakkara, who rose on a point of order, appeared to be furious after the Prime Minister made certain remarks asking him to sit down. He shot back at the Prime Minister with a verbal harangue for a few minutes.

At one point, Mr. Nanayakkara said, "Who the hell are you ask me to sit down?

The Prime Minister also responded, but his words could not be heard properly in the press gallery apparently due to his mike being switched off at the time. However, once he was heard saying, "You have not shaved your beard even. At least, shave your beard and come."

It was a moment of amusement for some opposition and government members as they giggled and thumbed their desks upon hearing various remarks during the cross talks marked with certain obscenities at times.

The public gallery was full of school children at the time, and Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa alerted it to the House.

"Please mind that there are school children in the gallery viewing the proceedings," he said. (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)