"Premiership is not a big deal for me" - MR

10.53 am - Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe and the opposition leader R. Sampanthan left the chamber a short while ago. 10.40 am - The tense situation in parliament continues. 10.26 am - Following the address of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa a heated exchange of words erupted within the parliamentary premises. 10.20 am -  Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that although the speaker was not ready to accept it they were always the force in the opposition.  If the UNP had remained in power for the remaining part of the year that this country would have been completely destroyed stated Rajapaksa. He continued to say that President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved parliament in order to conduct an election but that it was the UNP and the JVP who had continuously delayed it. 10.08 am - Speaking in the parliament Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said that he has been Prime Minister, he has been president and that this premiership is not a big deal for him. "From the day I was born, I have been in Parliament. I was in the gallery since I was a child. There has never been a darker day in Parliament"  added Mahinda Rajapaksa. 10.01 am - Speaker Karu Jayasuriya takes his seat in parliament. Addressing the parliament he made a special announcement that there is no active Prime Minister or cabinet in parliament today. He noted that seating has been arranged in the same way it was arranged yesterday.   COLOMBO (News 1st) - Parliament is scheduled to convene at 10.00 am today (November 15). Our correspondent reported that a party leaders meeting chaired by the Speaker is due to be held prior to the parliamentary sessions.   https://www.facebook.com/NewsfirstSL/videos/582181492202286/