Speaker Karu Jayasuriya adjourned parliament until August 4, as tensions flared in the House.

A heated argument broke out in parliament when a vote was being held to pass the gazette notification issued by the President, making the unloading and distributing of petroleum an essential service.

Before the vote, Opposition MPs requested that mMinister Sagala Ratnayaka make a statement regarding the assault that was carried out on employees of the Petroleum Corporation yesterday.

However, the Speaker decided to proceed with the vote.While the vote was being held, members of the Opposition disrupted the proceedings in the House.

When a group of MPs tried to grab the mace, the Speaker decided to adjourn parliament.

Thereby, Leader of the House, Lakshman Kiriella said that Parliament will convene once again on August 4.