The Parliament was adjourned mid-session today (23) after a tense situation arose following the government announcing it will not permit a debate on judicial vacancies, requested by the Opposition to be held during the day’s proceedings. 

Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne announced that the Parliament will be adjourned for 10 minutes due to the current situation.

Addressing the Parliament earlier today, Opposition MP Ajith P. Perera informed the house that twenty Opposition MPs have handed over a letter to the Speaker calling for a debate on the judicial vacancies and proposal to increase the retirement age of judges. 

Responding to the request, Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake said that the ongoing debate cannot be adjourned, as a vote has been scheduled for the end of the Parliament session, pointing out insufficient time.

Minister Rathnayake further said that a vote could be held on the matter, but a debate cannot be held on the Opposition’s request today. 

Following the remarks, a tense situation arose in Parliament, with several opposition MPs, including Harsha de Silva and Dayasiri Jayasekera, and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa expressing displeasure. 

As the tense situation continued, Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne adjourned Parliament for 10 minutes. (Newswire)

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The Parliament of Sri Lanka was adjourned until tomorrow (19 June) after SJB MP Ajith P. Perera failed to be present to start the adjournment debate on the Israel-Iran conflict.

SJB MP Ajith P. Perera failed to be present at the scheduled time to start the adjournment debate that he had proposed. 

As MP Nizam Kariyappar began to move the motion on the debate, Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake and Minister Vijitha Herath pointed out that a motion cannot be moved by a member on behalf of another.

A tense situation then arose, after which Deputy Speaker Rizvi Sally adjourned the House until 09.30 am tomorrow. (Newswire)

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Parliament proceedings have been adjourned until 04.00 pm today, Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe informed the Parliament today.

The Deputy Speaker said this decision had been taken as relevant MPs from both the Government and opposition sides scheduled to address the Chamber were not present.

The Ruling Party’s MPs include Prof. Ranjith Bandara, Suren Raghavan, M. M. Muszhaaraff, Bandula Guanwardena, Suresh Vadivel, and Shehan Semasinghe. 

Meanwhile, the Opposition MPs include Harsha de Silva, M.A. Sumanthiran, Vijitha Herath, Patalai Champika Ranawaka, Niroshan Perera, S.M. Marikkar, Prof. Charitha Herath, Gamini Waleboda, Nalaka Godahewa, Thushara Indunil Amarasena, Velu Kumar, Udaya Kumara, Charles Nirmalanathan, Sellarasa Gajendran, and Weerasumana Weerasinghe.

Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe announced that therefore, the Parliament session has been temporarily suspended until this evening. (NewsWire)

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