The Hon. Speaker

¶ 01 Please read your statement.

¶ 02 You read what you have written in the document.

¶ 03 No. You can read only what you have written.

¶ 04 Please read only what is written.

¶ 05 You may read only what is in your letter, Hon. Member. Please read what is written in the letter.

¶ 06 You read what you have written.

¶ 07 You may read only what is written in the document.

¶ 08 Hon. Member, please read the second page.

¶ 09 Hon. Member, this is a serious matter. You are not reading your letter, are you?

¶ 10 Hon. Chief Government Whip.

¶ 11 Please remove these matters from the Hansard record. Hon. Member, you can only read the Privilege Question.

¶ 12 The Police have informed me regarding a traffic violation. They have informed me about the action taken under traffic law concerning you. The law in this country is equal to every person. One can be an MP or a Minister, but no one is above the law. Therefore, Hon. Member, please act in accordance with the law. In addition, the Police have been clearly instructed to provide you with the necessary facilities to participate in the legislative functions and, if any illegal act has been committed, to take necessary action in that regard.

¶ 13 Only what is in the letter will be recorded in the Hansard, Hon. Member. Please read the second page.

¶ 14 Hon. Members, this is delaying the commencement of the main business. According to the Standing Orders amended up to 23 November 2022, I conduct proceedings. Please, the Opposition and the Government should discuss and settle these matters through the Committee on Parliamentary Business and the Committee on Standing Orders. Otherwise, consuming the time of the House in this way is a serious issue.

¶ 15 We will discuss this at the Committee on Parliamentary Business.

¶ 16 I asked for one week to give my Ruling.

¶ 17 That is what I told you. I will give my Ruling in one week’s time.

¶ 18 Let us proceed to the main business. Items 1 to 3.

¶ 19 Debate commencement, Hon. Sarath Kumara, Attorney-at-Law. You have nine minutes.

¶ 20 Order, please! At this stage, the Hon. Speaker will leave the Chair.

¶ 21 Whereupon the Hon. Speaker left the Chair, and the Deputy Speaker [The Hon. (Dr.) Rizvie Salih] took the Chair.

¶ 22 Next, the Hon. Kabir Hashim. You have 15 minutes.