Police personnel have entered the Parliament chamber to control the situation due to the protest by government MPs, who are obstructing the commencement of the parliamentary session.
Parliament was set to convene at 1.30 pm this afternoon. However, proceedings of parliament are yet to officially begin. A large number of UPFA members of parliament have surrounded the Speaker’s chair. MP Arundika Fernando is currently seated in the Speaker’s chair.
President Maithripala Sirisena called on all factions in Parliament to abide by the norms and traditions of Parliament and go for a vote by name to show their majority when Parliament meets today.
Parliamentarian Indika Anurudhdha lodged a complaint, with the Parliament Police, that MPs Ranjan Ramanayake and Palitha Thewarapperuma carried knives, when violence erupted in the House yesterday (15) and had threatened saying, “I will kill you if you step forward”.
Deputy Leader of the United National Party Sajith Premadasa, addressing party supporters who gathered at the Lipton Circus in Colombo, stated that he is ready to take up the leadership.
The prices of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) petrol (92 and 95) and Diesel (Auto and Super) would be reduced by Rs.5 per litre with effect from midnight today, Minister Gamini Lokuge said today.
Several roads in Colombo are congested due to the United National Party rally which is to begin in few minutes at Lipton Circus against the unconstitutional moves by the government.
Prime Minister’s office has released full text of the speech made by the Hon. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament on Thursday the 15th November 2018.
At the party leaders meeting held at the parliamentary complex today, it was decided that Parliament would meet tomorrow at 1.30 pm, Speaker’s media unit said.
A tense situation broke out in Parliament this morning when Speaker of House Karu Jayasuriya called for a No-Confidence Motion pertaining to the statement made by Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Mahinda Rajapaksa says that the Prime Minister is appointed by the President and not the Speaker and accused Speaker Karu Jayasuriya of misusing his powers and acting in a baised manner.
The government said that newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa would continue in the post because yesterday’s No-Confidence Motion (NCM) had been brought unconstitutionally.
The so-called “no confidence motion” of the Opposition in Parliament was not valid as no such motion had been moved during the time Parliament sittings were in progress, Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said.
