Minister Premjayantha breaks ranks-vents anger in Parliament

COLOMBO (News 1st); During the debate in Parliament today on the COPE report, Minister Susil Premajayantha inquired whether the Parliament could agree to the laws that are being drafted elsewhere. The State Minister for Education Reforms Susil Premajayantha speaking during the debate said that there is no point in drafting legislation elsewhere and urging MPs to raise their hands in support of the said legislation in Parliament. "I have to say that we have not been appointed to stay here as mere signal poles. We have a role to play. I remember in the past when the then-Government was drafting a new constitution, they appointed a select committee which formed six sub-committees, to which legal assistance was given by legal experts. That is what a legislature is supposed to be. Why are we here otherwise? Today some do not even know how to make constitutions," The State Minister said. In response to the Speaker's remarks on the MP's time duration, Premajayantha said that while MPs who know their subject and highlight matters get only 11 minutes and certain MPs who do not know about their subject get more than 15 minutes to speak.