Suspension follows persistent argument

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 August 1999, 20:21 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Minister of lands and Land development, D.M.Jayaratne was suspended today from sitting in Parliament for arguing with an opposition member of Parliament.

He was suspended for a day because he continued to argue even after he was told to sit down by Deputy Chairman for Committees, Rauf Hakeem (SLMC).

D.M.Jayaratne was trying to present a bill to change the laws concerning the felling of timber.

The debate concerning the bill Jayaratne submitted to Parliament has been set for a later date.

The opposition members said that D.M.Jayaratne cannot pass laws concerning the cutting of trees in Parliament because the timber trade comes under the forestry department.