PM helps Opposition correct its mistake

By Saman Indrajith

The debate on the no-confidence motion against the Minister of Energy and Petroleum Resources Udaya Gammanpila began in Parliament yesterday on the wrong foot with SJB Colombo District MP S.M. Marikkar making a vital procedural omission.

MP Marikkar was to move the motion for the debate and his senior party man Kegalle District SJB MP Kabir Hahim was listed to second it.

MP Marikkar used the time allocated for the moving of the motion to blame the government and Minister Gammanpila yet did not move the motion before taking his seat.

When MP Hashim got up to second the motion, the government members shouted that it was against parliament procedure to second a motion that had not been moved.

Leader of the House Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardene said that MP Marikkar had spoken without reading the motion. “An MP has to read out a motion when he is moving one as per the Standing Orders. The standing orders have to be followed especially when an important motion such as a no confidence motion is moved,” Minister Gunawardene pointed out.

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said the government should bring in a no-confidence motion against SJB as they did not know how to move a motion. “A no-confidence motion has to be brought against the SJB as they don’t know the standing orders. An MP cannot speak twice. If MP Marikkar is allowed to speak again all the other members should be allowed to speak twice during the debate,” the Minister said.

MP Marikkar then questioned whether the government was worried about the motion.

MP Hashim, who rose to second the motion, questioned whether the government members were suffering from loose motion. “The government MPs seem to be suffering from loose motion and the chambers will have to be cleaned by evening,” MP Hashim said.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who intervened in the cross talk, proposed that MP Marikkar be allowed to read out the motion.

“MP Marikkar can read out the motion but SJB should admit that it has made a mistake,” Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said.