Lakshman Kiriella and Chamara Sampath Dasanayake clash in Parliament

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella and State Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayake were engaged in a showdown in Parliament yesterday over the session closing time.   

State Minister Dasanayake said the closing time of the sessions should be changed. “ The sessions close at 7pm. Parliament staff are inconvenienced by this as it is close to midnight when they go home. 

I see Chief Opposition Whip here. Therefore I request party leaders to consider changing the closing time” the state minister said.   

“ I am not the one who decides on the closing time. You bloody fool,” Kiriella responded. “ Oya me fool ara fool Mata wedak ne. There are things which I can tell about you” the state minister said. “ You should take up the issue with the Speaker,” Kiriella said.