Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has dismissed Opposition claims of 300 children being on board the second Iranian vessel off the coast of Sri Lanka. 

Addressing Parliament today, Minister Nanayakkara clarified there were no children on board the vessel, criticizing the opposition for speaking based on reports on social media and without checking facts. 

“A particular media had claimed that there were 300 children on board the ship. After some time, the media had dropped the part referring to children and reported 300 individuals. The opposition MPs have seen only the first reference. Please do not raise unchecked facts in Parliament. It is an injustice to the public,” he said. 

The Justice Minister further said that there were attempts to create chaos in the country through such unverified information. 

He went on to note that there was fake news related to the Iranian vessel being circulated on social media.

“One claim is that Sri Lanka was the informant for the US to attack the Iranian ship. Hours later, there is another fake news urging the public to buy and store fuel, as Iran has decided not to provide fuel to Sri Lanka for being an informant, leading to the ship attack. What irresponsible people. These people are attempting to seize power by setting fire to the nation,” he said. 

The Justice Minister said the government cannot take action against such people as it respects freedom of expression, but urged the public, including the opposition, to use the right wisely and responsibly.

He further pointed out that some opposition MPs were using parliamentary privileges to make statements in Parliament, for which they cannot be arrested, which was being reported by the media, and could be misleading. 

Meanwhile, Opposition MP Ajith P. Perera has clarified that he only mentioned that there were 300 children on board the second Iranian vessel, as they were cadets.

Addressing the Parliament today, he said that he never referred to the individuals as children of the age of 04 or 05.

“They are cadets. I never said they are young children. Eventually, the government did what we advised. MP Hashara Liyanage said not to help. But we urged for humanity and to help them. They are still children. They are Navy students. We will speak for their rights, irrespective of their nationality,” he said. (Newswire)

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Opposition MP Ajith. P. Perera has been elected as Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development of the Tenth Parliament of Sri Lanka. 

According to a Parliament statement, the Kalutara District SJB MP was elected during the inaugural meeting of the committee convened at the Parliament complex yesterday (27 May). 

In line with a prior agreement between the ruling party and the opposition, the chairmanship of this particular Sectoral Oversight Committee has been offered to a member of the opposition. 

Accordingly, the name of MP Ajith P Perera was proposed for the chairmanship by MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha and seconded by MP Jagath Vithana.

Subsequently, the National Transport Commission (Amendment) Bill, which is scheduled to be debated for the second reading in Parliament on 05 June, was discussed at the meeting, in the presence of officials from several relevant institutions, including the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation.

During the meeting, the officials said that this amendment bill was presented by including provisions to solve the practical issues that the Transport Commission had been facing for a long time. It was approved by the committee. The basic issues regarding the fundamental changes that should be made in the transport sector were also discussed. (Newswire)

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Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and Opposition MP Ajith P. Perera clashed in Parliament today over their respective designations as legal professionals in Sri Lanka. 

Addressing Parliament today, SJB MP Ajith P. Perera claimed that the Justice Minister too has been referred to as Adineethigna (අධිනීතීඥ) professionally.

The MP was responding to an allegation by the Justice Minister that MP Perera was misleading the public by referring to himself as Adineethigna, a title which is no longer used by legal professionals in Sri Lanka. 

Justice Minister Nanayakkara refuted Perera’s claim, stating that he has worked as a state counsel for four years. “I have not brought that title here. I only asked you to present the certificate that qualifies you as Adineethigna (අධිනීතීඥ) as you have used this title in your websites,” Nanayakkara said. 

Citing Act No. 26 of 2023, MP Perera said that there are two categories of lawyers identified, namely Instructing Attorney and Counsel. “Counsel means Adineethigna (අධිනීතීඥ). Don’t you understand Sinhala?” MP Perera questioned.

Perera also alleged that the Justice Minster himself has used the title in his election campaigns. 

Responding to the MP, Justice Minister Nanayakkara clarified that he had only worked as Rajaye Adineethigna (state counsel) and had not used it to mislead voters. 

An argument then ensued between the two Parliamentarians. (Newswire)

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Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has challenged MP Ajith P. Perera to provide proof of his credentials as an Advocate (අධිනීතිඥ).

“It is not wise to throw stones from a glass house,” Nanayakkara said.

“To claim that he is an Advocate, he must have sat for the relevant exam before 1973. After 1973, only Attorneys-at-Law practice in this country. It is impossible for him to have taken that exam at the time because he would have been about five years old,” the Minister said.

Nanayakkara accused Perera of falsely claiming to be an Advocate especially during election campaigns to mislead voters.

“I am a Barrister in England, but I don’t use that title here because it only applies in England. If someone does that, it is cheating,” he added.

Addressing the opposition, Nanayakkara said, “At least now you must understand why you lost the election. Your ideas are important to us, but only if they are not insults. At the very least, remain in Parliament to listen to us,” Nanayakkara said.

He also noted that MP Perera was not present in the House during his remarks. (Newswire)

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