Mr. Speaker - The Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne

¶ 01 Announcements

¶ 02 Right to Raise Supplementary Questions Relating to Questions for Oral Answers

¶ 03 Hon. Members, I wish to clarify to the House a situation that arose on 08 May 2025 when a question expecting an oral answer was asked by the Hon. Ranjith Bandara from the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies, and after the Deputy Minister provided the answer, the Hon. Member who asked the question indicated that he would ask only one supplementary question. Thereafter, invoking Standing Order 33(1), which provides that “in respect of an answer provided under Standing Order 32, a Member may ask not more than two supplementary questions,” another Hon. Member attempted to ask a supplementary question in relation to that question.

¶ 04 For the avoidance of doubt, the phrase “a Member” refers to the Member who asked the original question. Only that Member may ask up to two supplementary questions.

¶ 05 However, by established practice, with the consent and permission of the Member who asked the question, another Hon. Member may ask a supplementary question. In the instance concerned, the attempt was made without the knowledge or permission of the Hon. Member who had asked the question, and therefore I did not allow that supplementary question.

¶ 06 Under Standing Order 146, in respect of all matters for which no specific provision is made by these Standing Orders and all questions relating to the detailed working of these Standing Orders, the ruling of the Speaker shall be final.

¶ 07 Papers Presented

¶ 08 I call the Minister of Health and Mass Media.

¶ 09 Suspension of live telecast based on misleading allegations: Ordered that the expunged words be struck off from the record.

¶ 10 Please refer to Standing Order 79(1) regarding withdrawal of a Member from the Chamber.

¶ 11 Under Papers Presented, I call the Minister of Health and Mass Media.