Opposition MPs assaulted in parliament
The leader of the opposition in Sri Lanka says himself and a group of opposition MPs have been assaulted in the parliament chamber after the president presented the budget.
Ranil Wickramasinghe, MP, said a number of opposition MPs were admitted to the hospital after the assault by the government MPs.
The assault has occurred after the United National Party (UNP) MPs have protested the budget and the recent court ruling that sentenced former MP Sarath Fonseka for another three years.
The parliamentarians, including him, were assaulted in front of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who presented the budget, said Mr Wickramasinghe who had difficulty in walking after the incident.
Budget proposals
“We were shamelessly assaulted at a time the whole world is watching. This is like Libya during old days,” he told the journalists.
The budget presented by President Rajapaksa in his capacity as the finance minister included “a series of proposals to help uplift the socio-economic conditions,” the government said in a statement.
This year’s budget that proposes to regard the welfare of families of security force personnel “as a priority” also proposes to give a salary increase of 10% of the basic salary to all public servants and those in the defence sector.
The UNP MPs were assaulted after an MP questioned about the welfare of former military commander Sarath Fonseka.
Noting that the government increased the minimum salary of public servants by Rs 1,200 last year, the president said public servants obtained a real increase by Rs 1500 to Rs 3000.
Forecasting an economic growth of 8%, the government expects to reach a per-capita income of US$ 4000 will be realized by 2016.
Sri Lanka’s rate of unemployment has declined from 8% to 5%, while the population below the poverty line has declined from 15.6% to 8.9%, according to the budget proposals.
BBC / Pix by Getty Images / AP
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They do deserve the traetment.
The UNP and its wimpish, toothless leader and his cohorts and the so-called backboneless rebels have jointly let down the Nation by being a pack of wimps in Parliament.
They do not have any policy; they are not an alternative government.
The day these pack of wimps are ousted from Parliament, true democracy of the people will return to our land.
So Mr. Guru, you approve manhandling them in the parliament chamber after the president presented the budget! You admit (see your last sentence) that true democracy is not there. Whose fault??? Who is running the country opposition?
Mr Amarakoon,
Not only manhandling, these wimps should be tied to rocks and thrown into the sea.
It is because of these wimps that the country is in its current state.
Drugs, lawlessness, abuse, corruption …. just a few things and there are many more ills that face our Nation.
The Arab spring saw million man walks for democracy. Opposition in SL cannot even gather 50 men.
Down with the wimps.
Mr. R.W Conspired and instigated his men into unholy
display of placrds denouncing the President and the
govt. long before the actual budgetary proposals were
presented to the Parliament. Does not the Leader of the
Opposition and presently the chairman of the christian
international parliamentary union believe in the sanctity
of Parliament in session? By displaying derogatory
placards in the House during the Presentation of the
budget,did not the honourable members of the opposition
provoked and challenged the govt members? Even murder
under provocation is relegated to a lesser offence of
homicide.
Perhaps a strict (stripped) body check 9except) lady
members –for the sake of chastity,will help to outlaw
these unpaliamentary incidents.
rovacation is relegated to a lesser offence of
homicide.
I agree with Guru and AUJ. Such unparliamentary behaviour was instigated by RW and UNP leaders, who came well prepared to Parliament with placards, which should not have been allowed into the hallowed precincts. The Parliament security division should be investigated as to why they allowed placards to be brought in to create unruly behaviour. What an example to our younger generation!
It was because the Hon President attended Parliament, in his capacity as Finance Minister, to deliver the Budget Speech, the opposition pre-arranged this unruly behaviour. They were demonstrating against SF imprisonment, which he richly deserved. Infact, the sentence was too lenient! In USA, he would have got a minimum of 20 years. What has this demonstration to do with Budget Speech?
It was a very good Budget. Everyone gained. SL is progressing well at a time of world recession created by the West, through their neo-colonial wars and capitalism. Our unemployment is very low compared to USA and EU nations where the rate is in double figures with millions unemployed and homeless. SL is the envy of the imperial West under MR govt. So they will use and finance the opposition parties in SL and NGOs etc to create mob unrest. Eventually, the imperial West will use the riots they created as an excuse to step-in militarily, to topple the strong MR govt and install their puppet regime, to establish US bases, and to steal our oil and gas wells when established.
There has to be an investigation to the deplorable manner in which the UNP and opposition louts behaved, and condemned in Parliament and in the media. Measures have to be taken urgently to prevent such future behaviour.
The Hon President, as Finance Minister, and his ministerial team has delivered a very good budget with concessions to all and incentives to businesses. This would surely boost the country’s economic recovery and progress in every direction.
The opposition, however, to their utter shame broke with parliamentary tradition of responsible courteous behaviour, by disrupting the eagerly awaited Budget Speech proceedings. The UNP leaders held up placards during the proceedings, which they had smuggled in by prior arrangement. The placards read, “SHAME”. These louts should be the ones who should be utterly ashamed! They also shouted slogans calling for SF’s freedom. What has this to do with the important Budget Speech?
The whole country has condemned the UNP for their loutish behaviour and disruption. UNP offers no alternative policies for the good of the nation. On this record, are they electable to form the next government, to continue the momentum of the economic progress and development of the country? At the next election and subsequent elections also, the UNP will be utterly defeated with a resounding “NO” from the nation. RW will be content to continue to sit in Parliament as “The Leader of the Opposition”.
RW returned to SL from another jaunt in the West, having been appointed appointed chairman of the “International Christian Organisation for SE Asia”, a dubious organisation with a dubious agenda,I have never heard of before. Can such a man be elected PM/President of a Buddhist nation? I suppose he will continue to keep SP in bay down South, unable to be elected UNP leader. Some satisfaction!
Bad political system in our nation, its really very shame, whoever involved (PA & UNP) MP’s down grade the chamber to the below standard.
Demala Chelvam in a blog couple of days ago staed Sinhala people have 4 choices in national leadership. The choces are:
1.The Blue Brothers, by drug barons, IRC’s and the like.
2.Retd Gen SF supported by the Forces and perhaps the deserters.
3.The rebel faction of the JVP supported by the gun.
4.The Greeny wimpy man has lost all his teeth and is urgently in need of dentures.
I agree with Demala C in this instance.
The Sinhala polity is in a black hole driven by greed, arrogance and power. The recent budget is a vulagar aggregation of state wealth in the hands of a family
Nicholas and the like, we need you to provide uplifting leadership. We cannot live eternally in the “glory” of the valiant efforts of Sinhala peasant youth who took up arms to fight the Tamil beast. It is time we become human and humane and revert to leading true buddhist lives in search of the truth and not material benefit.
People has to think before to cast their vote, who should win in elections, no any govenment should alowed to rule more then two times in power (one time or two times maximum) in order to show peoples power to rule the country (not the ruling party & its leaders). If the power transfers controled by people no incidents could happends in Respectful Chamber. No political person willing to support poors rather then supporting to them self during their terms of MP post in hand. WHEN THIS WILL CHANGE IN OUR NATION??? ITS A KIND OF DREAM
UPFA must never allow the underworld mafioso to creep into political power. Our nation would be utterly ruined then. In USA, it nearly happened as the mafia tried to take control of the government and the country’s judicial and police force, until people elected a responsible government that rooted them out. This happened in Italy too. I hope MR govt has learnt its lessons and changed for the better by shedding links with the underworld. People like kudu-D, MS and other mafioso politicians should be evicted from political life. This can be effected at general election by the people by responsible voting. We can also through Law Courts have them arrested for breaking the law and imprisoned. They should also be deprived of political life thereafter. Kudu-D must be brought back to SL to face criminal charge of murder. MR and GR should not interfere but let the law takes it correct course. This is the will of the people.
To be an MP, need body fitness with boxing and wrestling experience to face any critical situations in Chamber….
Ranil conned many of his subordinates again by getting only them to hold the placards but he stayed without one. What a shame on Ranil and what a whimpy and cunning character? Now he can play as innocent and blame only his subordinates for this unethical and provocative behaviour in the parliment. Stupid UNP parlimentarians swallowed his trick completely and now looking like cats who went to toilet on a rock.
Hello Manjula,
Each & every single MP must respect to the Chamber, and need to make sure and remember that, all of them nominated by people, it can be MR, RW or any once too. I am not supporting any political party, just because every once plays their trumps. We r just sending them to Chamber to play game with public.
OUT OF 225 MP’S NON OF THEM WERE HONEST OR WILLING TO SAVE NATION ON POSITIVELY, EVERY ONCE TAKE ADVANTAGE FROM THE POWER.
Dear Corniche,
You sound very sober in your contributions to the
subject matter under discussion. You say you are non
partisan in politics and therefore I feel you should be
able discern what is of paramount importance at this
juncture.Your last sentence very correct.We send a ruling
party into power to take the advantage from the power
and to rule the country to a stipulated period of time
for the betterment and advancement of the country and
its people.No one will grudge that MR with his sagacity
and GR’s audacity and courage ended the thirty year old
curse releghated by amny as unwinnable. He has done that’
No one is perfect and each has his own follies and
missed steps.What is required is a forward march in the
right direction. We definitely are on the right track
and let us push our benefactors forward without malice
and with goodwill to all.THANK YOU,MR.CORNICHE.
Hello AUJ,
We should look always with SMART (specific, measureble,achievable, realistic & Time bound) objetives of our nation & people. We are selecting a leaders to do the good for nation in general, but the leader should keep the same spirit and do the best for future generation. However, leaders not assume that they are the super star or they are the everythings for the nation. When you are doing good things that will keep remembers forever, but not to use as trump or tools to use for individuals advantage.
For my observations after 70’s no good leaders with open vision for the nation. Any good will ambassidors never take revenge or do think on nagative manner, keep always think positively and do positively with very open minded. Current leaders (Govt & Opposition) doing good things but taking the full advantage from that, which is not correct, some time if I am also in politics could do the same due to the system of current politics.
AS FAR AS I CONCEREN, THE LEADERS SHOULD NOT THINK WHAT THE DID DURING THEIR TIME, BUT THEY SHOULD THINK ALWAYS WHAT COULD NOT DO FOR THE PEOPLE & NATION.