An inquiry will be carried out regarding the incident of verbal abuse directed by SJB MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha against MP Diana Gamage in Parliament on last Thursday (8), Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa stated.
The Deputy Speaker said that he will inform the Speaker regarding the concerns raised by the MPs in the House yesterday (9) and he would take necessary action regarding the incident.
The Deputy Speaker made these observations when several MPs raised the matter in parliament yesterday.Government MP Kokila Gunawardena commenting on the matter questioned how females would be encouraged to come into politics when abuse takes place in the House itself. She noted that opposition MP Rohini Kavirathna too faced a similar situation, thus, swift action should be taken against such abuse. MP Gunawardena said: “I thought MP Kavirathna would speak against this incident. But I think she left early. So, I am raising concerns. We should speak for all, not only when something happens to us. Please make an inquiry and take necessary action soon. When women are victimized, don’t try to blame it upon her.”
Chief Opposition Whip Lakshaman Kiriella requested that MPs who criticize MP Nalin Bandara should explain which Standing Order he violated when making the said remarks.
Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Chaminda Wijesiri said that MP Diana Gamage violated the Standing Orders and levelled baseless allegations against MPs.
Defence State Minister Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon who commented on the same matter, said that nobody spoke when female MPs’ houses were set on fire during the May 9 incident. “When something happens to the opposition female MP, everyone makes a big fuss. However, there were several female MPs like Kokila Gunawardena, Seetha Arambepola, Geetha Kumarasinghe whose houses were attacked, but no one spoke about it.”
MP Rohini Kavirathna speaking on the matter said that as a woman, she is deeply saddened by the incident that MP Diana Gamage had to undergo. MP Kavirathna noted that if appropriate actions were taken when she was similarly abused, an incident like this would not have taken place.
Add new comment