Culprits responsible for Parliament brawl revealed

by Staff Writer 26-01-2019 | 10:23 PM
Colombo (News1st): BBC News Sinhala reports that action should be taken against 59 MPs who were involved in the unruly behaviour in Parliament on the 14th, 15th, and 16th of November last year. This was revealed based on the report submitted to the Speaker by the Committee appointed to investigate the brawls that took place in parliament. BBC News Sinhala reported on this news item on their website, confirming that they had witnessed the relevant document. The Committee appointed to investigate this matter, had submitted their report, after inspecting the non-edited video footage during the three days, which had been obtained through electronic media and CCTV cameras embedded in the chamber of the parliament. Accordingly, the report alleges that the behaviour of 59 MPs did not adhere to certain sections of the Powers and Privileges Act of Parliament. According to the BBC, the report includes the names of 54 MPs from the UPFA, 4 MPs from the UNP and 1 MP from the JVP. BBC reveals that among the 59 MPs, UPFA MP Prasanna Ranaweera's name was repeated the most, under various allegations. Following are some of the accused and allegations levelled against them;
  1. MP Prasanna Ranaweera - 12 allegations including pouring water over the Speaker's chair, attacking police officers and throwing a liquid substance at them
  2. MP Indika Anuruddha - Throwing water at the Speaker, striking with waste bin and striking with a book
  3. MP Dilum Amunugama - Damaging the Speaker's microphone
  4. MP Ananda Aluthgamage -Damaging the Speaker's microphone
  5. MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage - Striking the speaker with a bottle of water
  6. MP Palitha Thewarapperuma -  Possession of an object similar to a knife
  7. MP Ranjan Ramanayake - Possession of an object similar to a knife
  8. MP Arundika Fernando - Occupying the speaker's chair
  9. MP Johnston Fernando - Damaging the Speaker's microphone, throwing a chair at the police officials and throwing books
  10. MP Niroshan Premarathna - Threatening and obstructing police officials while executing their duty
  11. MP Nishantha Muthuhettigama - Toppling the table on which the ceremonial mace was kept
  12. MP Ranjith Zoysa -  Toppling the table on which the ceremonial mace was kept
  13. MP Padma Udayashantha - Throwing some form of liquid at MPs Gamini Jayawickrema and Vijitha Herath
According to the BBC News Sinhala, the relevant documents reveal, that the valuation department had estimated the loss of the damage caused to the parliament property, at Rs. 325,000 excluding taxes. The report which was submitted to the Speaker last Wednesday (Jan 23), by the committee appointed to investigate the matter, is due to be submitted to the Attorney General. The Committee appointed to investigate the unruly behaviour displayed in Parliament was headed by  Deputy Speaker Ananda Kumarasiri and includes MPs Ranjith Maddumabandara, Chamal Rajapaksa, Chandrasiri Gajadeera, Bimal Rathnayake, and Mavai Senathirajah. However, the committee had received no support from MPs representing the UPFA, MP Chamal Rajapaksa and Chandrasiri Gajadeera. On the 21st of January, 2019 UPFA MP Chamal Rajapaksa noted that he has been appointed to the committee but he will refrain from participating in its proceedings. He questioned; "What's the point of a committee when we can all witness what's happening?"  He added that the main question should be who is responsible for causing chaos in parliament. The root cause to all of these issues is the proposal that was submitted by MP Sumanthiran, to re-convene parliament, upon the suspension of standing orders. The country witnessed the behaviour of MP Sumanthiran and the manner in which he pointed his finger and threatened the Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella in Parliament.

Does the report submitted to the Speaker, also focus on this matter?