By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

The 13 MPs who sat in the opposition as independent MPs have been deprived of speaking in Parliament, its leader Professor G. L. Peiris alleged yesterday.

Raising a privilege issue in Parliament, Professor Peiris said time has not been allocated for the 13 MPs since August 31 this year. “This has been done intentionally,” the MP said.

“There was an important debate in the House on Wednesday on the state revenue management. However, none of the 13 MPs who sat in the opposition was not given a minute to speak during this debate. The concept of parliamentary privileges will not have any effect if any MP is deprived of speaking during debates,” he added.
“The conference of Inter-Parliamentary Union which held in Canada recently referred to the parliamentary tradition. It seems that all these rights which was discussed at this conference are neglected when MPs are deprived of speaking,” he also said. Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa said these 13 MPs are deprived of speaking as they did not back the incumbent President when a vote was held to elect a President. “Is the government scared of these MPs as they are professionals and academics?” he questioned.

MP Dilan Perera said the Speaker should understand this situation as he was also deprived of speaking in 2015 when a group of UPFA MPs decided to sit in opposition after the 2015 general election.

Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga said the situation in Sri Lanka Parliament is something which has gone beyond the Westminster system.