Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana today instructed Samagi Jana Balawegaya Parliamentarian Rohini Kumari Wijerathna to protect the dignity of the Chair while speaking in Parliament.
The Speaker made this comment over an opinion expressed by the MP Wijerathna yesterday, raising a point of order.
The Parliamentarian raised a point of order in Parliament yesterday, pointing out that Parliamentarian Thalatha Athukorala was subject to verbal sexual abuse during the debate on the No-Confidence Motion against Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila.
MP Wijerathna said it was unfortunate that the Chair did not take action to prevent MP Athukorala from being subject to abuse during the debate.
The Speaker responding to the allegation made by MP Wijerathna at the commencement of Parliament today claimed the statement was inaccurate adding he was not proceeding the session at the time of the incident and requested MP Wijerathna act responsibly.
Following the response of the Speaker, MP Wijerathna said regardless of the fact if the Speaker was not in the seat at the time of the incident, the Speaker is responsible for all matters which occur within the House.
She said the Speaker justified the incident through his statement adding the Speaker must take necessary steps into the incident.
