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House in chaos as Azwer takes Chair
Parliament sessions took a chaotic turn today when UPFA MP A. H. M Azwer took the chair as the presiding officer amidst strong protests by UNP MPs who charged that there was an agreement that MP Azwer would not be allowed to preside over sessions.Mr. Azwer took the chair when Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa left the chair asking anyone to nominate Mr. Azwer to the chair. But UNP MP Eran Wickremeratne raised a point of order when Mr. Azwer took the chair. Mr. Wickramaratne questioned as to why Mr. Azwer took the chair when there was an agreement that Mr. Azwer would not be allowed to take the chair.
However, Mr. Azwer argued that one cannot question the actions of the speaker.
UNP MP Ajith P Perera who joined in the argument said an agreement was reached between the government and the opposition that Mr. Azwer would not be allowed to take the chair because of an incident that took place earlier.
UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake and Sujeewa Senasinghe also raised the same argument when Chief Government whip Dinesh Gunawardene responded saying there was no issue with Mr. Azwer taking the chair as he is included in the panel of MPs who will take the chair during the absence of the speaker or his deputy.
However, the UNP MPs stormed into the well of the House demanding that Mr. Azwer steps down from the chair. There were verbal arguments between the government and opposition MPs at that time. Accordingly, Deputy Ministers Lalith Dissanayake and A. R. M. Abdul Cader were seen engaged in a verbal war with the UNP MPs. Mr. Cadre was seen coming down to the well to take on UNP MPs but Mr. Dissanayake stopped him.
Later Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody then took the chair. UNP MPs were seen hooting at Mr. Azwer when he was stepping down from the chair.
The JVP MP who began his speech afterwards said the trouble began as one person sat on a chair which was not eligible to him. (Yohan Perera)
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