• I shall name the final list of MPs today (December 8
• Parliament debate is valid only when  members of both sides participate in it

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene yesterday said the appointment of a committee to probe the recent incidents in Parliament is delayed, as some senior MPs who he had named do not want to be in the committee.   

“I have talked to some of the MPs whom I wanted to appoint as members of the committee but some of them have refused to be in it. Therefore I shall name the final list of MPs today (December 8),” he said.   

The Speaker said this in response to a question raised by UNP MP Ranil Wickremesinghe in the House yesterday. “Appoint the committee which you promised to appoint and then try to convince the SJB MPs to participate in the Parliament debate. Parliament debate is valid only when  members of both sides participate in it. All MPs should be present at least on the last day when the Finance Ministry is debated,” Mr. Wickremesinghe said.