The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, before moving my Motion, a brief clarification. A Private Member gets a chance to take up a Motion only after some time. On the first morning of this 10th Parliament, at 8.30 a.m., I submitted 10 Motions numbered 1 to 10. The Motion to cut perks of Members of Parliament and of former Presidents came from the Government side. As promised — and I stated this in Parliament — we in the Opposition brought a Motion responding to those matters raised by the Government side.

¶ 02 That Motion includes reducing MPs’ pensions and other matters. I submitted that as my first Motion. But now, that Motion has been dropped. I checked with the Table Office yesterday. They have done nothing wrong; they have carried out their duties. They told me that decisions are made by the Committee on Parliamentary Business. If the Committee had decided, that would be fine, but the Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka says no such thing happened. Then it appears someone has, at their whim, removed that Motion and listed this one today. This too is an important Motion, but you cannot devalue a Member’s entitlement like this. If there is a procedure, tell me; otherwise, please allow me to present that Motion today. I was the first to submit 10 Private Members’ Motions in this Parliament, and I got this slot on that basis. Earlier, changes happened for Hon. Johnston Fernando and Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga; we thought this Government would not do that, but it has happened. The Motion I brought is the one you brought yourselves. Tell me why that Motion was removed before I proceed.