Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa withdrew a remark he made in Parliament, after Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih deemed his remarks were an insult to the Chair.
A tense situation arose in Parliament today, when Premadasa was raising concerns over the investigation into the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunga. Premadasa with his remarks suggested that the Speaker remain silent, to which the Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake protested.
Rathnayake demanded that Premadasa either apologise or withdraw his remarks.
“Yesterday one MP yelled at the Speaker, today another MP called the Government Whip a ‘bugger’. Now the Opposition Leader is telling the Speaker not to ‘jump in’. I urge you Speaker to either demand an immediate apology or withdrawal of his remarks. We take this seriously!” Rathnayake said, adding that the government will not tolerate intimidation of any kind.
Due to the heated exchange that followed, Deputy Speaker Salih said that the Opposition Leader’s remarks were insulting to the House.
“The remark you made was an insult to the Chair. Not me personally, but this Chair. And the honourable member who made the statement yesterday, that was again an insult. Please maintain decorum of the House,” the Deputy Speaker said.
The Deputy Speaker was referring to MP Archchuna Ramanathan who made remarks against the Speaker and Parliament during Wednesday’s parliamentary sessions.
Ramanathan, responding to Salih, protested that he was well within his rights to speak up. He also questioned if MP Dayasiri Jayasekara’s unparliamentary remarks will be expunged from the Hansard.
However, Deputy Speaker Salih admonished the MP, stating that he would have to request the Serjeant-at-Arms to remove the MP from the House.
The Deputy Speaker then addressing the Opposition Leader said that he was shocked to hear such a comment from him. “When I mentioned that word, I actually meant please don’t obstruct. I used a different word. But if you consider it as an insult, I withdraw it. I have no problem in withdrawing anything untoward, I don’t have a personal ego,” Premadasa said.
“Opposition Leader, I was shocked to hear that word from you,” Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih said as Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa withdrew the remark made against the Speaker. (Newswire)
“I am shocked to hear this word from you. Looks like there are a lot of thugs here now” The Parliament heats up ! pic.twitter.com/uqOYaOAV62
— NewsWire 🇱🇰 (@NewsWireLK) February 6, 2025