The Hon. Deputy Speaker

¶ 01 Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena, you may continue.

¶ 02 Hon. Sajith Premadasa and Hon. Members of the Opposition, the Hon. Speaker was in the Chair before I came. He had refuted this. So, if I allow you now, I will be demeaning him. Please, understand that.

¶ 03 Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena, would you please continue? Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena, the Floor is yours.

¶ 04 Hon. Members, please maintain silence and decorum in the House. The Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena is on his feet.

¶ 05 Hon. Members, you all can speak when the Opposition gets the chance to participate in the Debate.

¶ 06 Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, when the opportunity is given to the Opposition, you can express your views.

¶ 07 Okay. The Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna.

¶ 08 Okay, Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, your point was taken. We will put it to the Hon. Speaker, who was in the Chair at the time.

¶ 09 You can talk it out with the Hon. Minister when we break up.

¶ 10 Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena, please carry on.

¶ 11 Yes, Hon. Leader of the Opposition, why are you on your feet? What is your point of Order?

¶ 12 Okay, I am timing it here.

¶ 13 That is not a point of Order, Hon. Leader of the Opposition. You are due to speak from the Opposition.

¶ 14 Hon. (Dr.) Najith Indika, why are you on your feet?

¶ 15 No, I cannot allow that.

¶ 16 Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena, would you please continue?

¶ 17 No, your name was not mentioned by anybody.

¶ 18 Hon. Mano Ganesan, be reasonable. Your name was not mentioned.

¶ 19 The Hon. Minister of Public Security. Now, you all can listen to him. That is about your issue, Hon. Mano Ganesan. So, would you please sit down?

¶ 20 Hon. Members, now, please settle down. He has addressed your issue. We will take it up in half an hour. Okay, Hon. Mano Ganesan, you seem to want to raise something.

¶ 21 Okay, the Hon. Minister wants half an hour.

¶ 22 Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena, you may speak now. Hon. Member, the Hon. Minister is very reasonable. He wants half an hour. We will get back to it in half an hour. He has replied.

¶ 23 Hon. Mano Ganesan, you can send the note you have with you to him.

¶ 24 You can send that note to him, Hon. Member. Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena, please carry on.

¶ 25 Hon. Member, wait for half an hour, please.

¶ 26 Hon. (Dr.) Prasanna Gunasena, would you please carry on?

¶ 27 Hon. (Dr.) Ramanathan Archchuna, you may finish now. Your time is up. (Later timing notes as relevant.)

¶ 28 Next, Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka. You have seven minutes.

¶ 29 Next, the Hon. (Prof.) Ruwan Ranasinghe. You have eight minutes.

¶ 30 Hon. Kathiravelu Shanmugam Kugathasan, you have five minutes.

¶ 31 Hon. Member, your time is up. Would you please wind up? We are short of time.

¶ 32 Hon. Jeevan Thondaman, why are you on your feet? I cannot give you much time. Just say it briefly.

¶ 33 Hon. Jagath Vithana, you have five minutes.

¶ 34 No, Hon. Member, you have one more minute only.

¶ 35 Hon. Jagath Vithana, your time is up.

¶ 36 Hon. Ananda Wijepala, you have ten minutes.

¶ 37 Hon. Minister, do you give your consent to be interrupted?

¶ 38 Hon. Member, please make it very short.

¶ 39 You may pose your question, but make it very short, please.

¶ 40 Okay. Hon. Member, your point has been taken.

¶ 41 Okay. Hon. Ananda Wijepala, you may continue.

¶ 42 Hon. Minister, you have two more minutes.

¶ 43 Order, please! The ongoing Proceedings of the House shall stay suspended till 1.00 p.m. for lunch.

¶ 44 Sitting accordingly suspended till 1.00 p.m. and then resumed, DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES [THE HON. (MRS.) HEMALI WEERASEKARA] in the Chair.