First meeting in parliament
Karu, Thilanga, Selvam, Gayantha and Lakshman get appointments Council ill at ease because of Mahinda also seated in front
The meeting of the new parliament was held this morning at 9.30 and Karu Jayasuriya was appointed right at the beginning and it was proposed by Prime Minister Ranil while Nimal Siripala, MP seconded it. The support given in
his speech by Prime Minister Mr. Ranil Wickremasingha to allow Kurunegala District MP Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa to carry on activities in parliament being appreciated, is a special feature. Mahinda Rajapaksa who came to the chambers exactly at 9.25 in the morning had seated himself with Messrs. Nimal Siripala de Silva and Sarath Amunugama on either side in the front row, it was reported. Since the seats have still not been allocated separately for the Opposition and the Government Party as such, everybody was provided facilities to occupy their seats in any manner they wished. According to the orders of the Speaker, the 224 Members of Parliament signed their covenant and placed their signatures and the former President too likewise following in the footsteps of others, placed his signature.The name of Mr. Thilanga Sumathipala of the United People's Freedom Alliance was was proposed as the Deputy Speaker of the new parliament by former leader of the Opposition Nimal Siripala de Silva and Mr. Rauff Hakeem seconded it. Mr. Selvam Adakalanadan of the Tamil National Alliance was unanimously elected as the Deputy Executive Chairman of the Executive Committee. Prior to joining the Tamil National Alliance he was the Leader of the Tamil Eelam Vimukthi Organisation (TELO) while Gayantha Karunatillaka received appointment as the chief organiser of the government Party of the new parliament while Mr. Lakshman Kiriella was bestowed his appointment as before.
Udaya Gammanpila of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya made his maiden speech today in a somewhat aggressive manner by using expressions such as dividing the country and taking up weapons.On that occasion Prime Minister brought up a point of order. The Prime Minister complained to the Speaker that that there was no permission to speak about taking up weapons under standing orders when he was allowed to make his speech of thanks as a leader of a Party and under orders of the Speaker Gammanpila had to deliver a word of thanks and thereby keep his mouth shut,
The council was adjourned until 3 in the evening today until the opening the parliament when the President is supposed to participate was was scheduled.