Uproar in Parliament after Chamara Sampath prevented from raising privilege issue

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana 

Commotion reigned in Parliament today when Opposition Member of Parliament Chamara Sampath Dassanayake was prevented from raising a privilege issue. 

Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne threatened to remove the MP from the chamber.  

MP Dassanayake said he has been prevented from visiting China on an official tour as a fresh case has been filed against him compelling the Judiciary to impound his passport. 

"You chased me when I came to your office to handover my privilege issue," the MP said. 

Opposition MPs stood up at this point, triggering a heated argument with Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake. An aggressive MP Ratnayake accused the Opposition of provoking MP Dassanayake. 

"Thamusela thami oya manusseyawa avussane," (It is you who are inciting that man) he was heard saying in Sinhalese. 

Opposition MPs were seen around MP Dassanayake's seat most of the time. 

Meanwhile, MPs Ravi Karunanayake, Sujeewa Senasinghe and Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilaka were seen walking towards the Speaker's chair from time to time to discuss the situation with him.  The speaker was seen talking aggressively with these MPs.