Compelled to take Legal action against Govt. MPs who tried to assault opposition MP : Kiriella

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

Whilst Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella stated that his party will be compelled to take legal action against the government MPs who tried to assault SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara in the lobby, Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawaradene said there is no provision for such action.  

Kiriella said his party will be compelled to take legal action against the government MPs who tried to assault the Opposition MP if the Speaker continues to refrain from giving a ruling on the incident.  

 “We expected the Speaker to give a ruling on what took place before his very eyes but he did not. We like to resolve issues pertaining to the legislature through the legislature. However we will be compelled to take the matter to the Supreme Courts if the Speaker fails to give a ruling,” he said.  

Gunawardene said there is no provision for the Supreme Court to interfere with the affairs of legislature as per the ruling given by the late Speaker Anura Bandaranaike. 
“The Late Speaker Anura Bandaranaike gave a ruling saying the Supreme Courts cannot interfere with the legislature when the former attempted  to give a ruling against the legislature taking up the impeachment motion against the then Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva in 2001. We have all agreed with this ruling and therefore it is not proper to involve another institution in affairs of the legislature,” he said.