SL Parliament to debate on Sivaram murder

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 May 2005, 09:17 GMT]
Leaders of political parties represented in the Sri Lanka Parliament Wednesday decided to hold a special debate on the killing of a senior journalist Mr.D.Sivaram, Speaker Mr.W.M.J.Lokkubandara announced.

Mr.R.Sampanthan, leader of the Tamil National Alliance parliamentary group Wednesday made a statement on the killing of Mr.Sivaram. He requested the Speaker for permission to hold a debate on the killing. Minister Mr.Jeyaraj Fernandopulle on behalf of the government consented for a debate on the murder.

Thereafter TNA parliamentarians walked into the well of the House carrying placards condemning the killing of Mr.Sivaram demanding that an international independent commission should be appointed by the Government of Sri Lanka to probe the killing of Mr.Sivaram, parliamentary sources said.

The House was adjourned and the leaders of all political parties met in the Speaker's chamber and decided to hold a special debate on the murder of Mr.Sivaram. The Speaker announced the decision when the House resumed its sitting after about ten minutes, according to the sources.