Member of Parliament Mr. Rohana Bandara said that there is hesitation regarding the decision given by the Ethics and Privileges Committee of the Parliament regarding the conflict with MP Diana Gamage in the Parliament premises. Sri Lanka Latest News
Mr. Rohana Bandara further said that he accepts the decision of the parliamentary committee headed by the deputy speaker and that the committee conducted a proper hearing regarding the conflict with MP Diana Gamage and the Ethics and Privileges Committee of the Parliament did not conduct a proper hearing regarding the incident.
Regarding this incident, MP Sujith Sanjay Perera said that he was allowed to present his excuses in the parliamentary committee chaired by the Deputy Speaker but was not given that opportunity in the parliamentary privilege committee and it is a serious injustice.
However, MP Sujith Sanjay Perera stated that in the future, work will be done to maintain parliamentary traditions and discipline in Parliament and he will accept the decision of the Ethics and Privileges Committee of the Parliament.
Members of Parliament Mr. Sujith Sanjay Perera and Mr. Rohana Bandara expressed these views today (02) at a press conference held at the office of the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr. Sujith Sanjay Perera who spoke there,
Diana Gamage Member of Parliament tried to attack Member of Parliament Rohana Bandara by cursing her with obscene words. I and MP Rohana Bandara complained to the Speaker. At that time, the Speaker arranged to appoint a committee headed by the Deputy Speaker to look into this incident.
We were called to that committee and allowed to present excuses. The committee’s recommendation was submitted to the Parliament’s Privileges Committee last week. We thought that the recommendations of the committee would be implemented in the same manner in the Privileges Committee of the Parliament.
But even though we were allowed to make an excuse in the parliamentary committee headed by the deputy speaker, we were not given that opportunity in the parliamentary privilege committee. It is a grave injustice. If we had the opportunity to present the matter in the Parliamentary Privileges Committee, we would have received a fairer answer regarding this issue. However, we respect the decision of the Parliamentary Privileges Committee. I am not trying to challenge that decision.
The whole country knows about the incident between Diana Gamage Member of Parliament and us. Everyone got the opportunity to see how Diana Gamage MP behaved at that time. Diana Gamage Member of Parliament got involved in this incident and tried to create a problem with us. We didn’t get a chance to escape from it, but in the future, we are doing work to maintain the discipline of the parliament to maintain parliamentary traditions.”
Mr. Rohana Bandara who spoke there,
Diana Gamage member of parliament got us involved in this issue. That is why we recorded this incident on video. If the video was not made, this problem would have changed. Diana Gamage Member of Parliament made a statement in Parliament on the day of the incident and turned the whole incident upside down. The allegation I have is that the incident was videotaped and released.
MP Sujith Sanjay came and tried to prevent that incident somehow. The consensus of the parliamentary committee headed by the Deputy Speaker was to release the MP Sujith Sanjay with a warning. Several people had announced that MP Sujith Sanjay should be banned from Parliament for a month.
However, we accept the decision of the parliamentary committee headed by the Deputy Speaker. It was from that committee that proper supervision of this issue was carried out. We were not invited to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee. No evidence was examined regarding the incident. The report of the parliamentary committee appointed under the chairmanship of the Deputy Speaker was submitted after obtaining all the evidence regarding the incident.
Chamal Rajapaksa MP, who agreed with the decision of the parliamentary committee headed by the deputy speaker, has remained silent in the committee of the parliamentary privilege committee. The decision of the Parliamentary Privileges Committee has been accepted due to the silence of MP Chamal Rajapakse. The ruling party has more composition in every committee of the parliament. Decisions are made using that structure as a weapon. The rights of opposition members of parliament and members of the ruling party cannot be changed. Everyone should have equal rights.
We have a debate about the decision taken by the Parliament. We are hesitant about this decision. This decision is political. If I could, I would take a month from the MP Sujith Sanjay Perera. Mr. Sujith Sanjay Perera is innocent in this matter. MP Sujith Sanjay Perera joined this conflict to resolve this conflict. The one-month suspension from Parliament is a scar that has been inflicted on MP Sujith Sanjay Perera. The video of the conflict with MP Diana Gamage on social media made it clear that there are people out there who are smarter than the people in the parliament.
We did not talk about this incident for about a month inside and outside the parliament. We hit Happu with a bowser. We are embarrassed to recall that incident again. So we had forgotten about it. However, we submit to the punishment given by the Parliament. In the People’s Court, these judgments will be properly decided.”
