Parliament debates JHU motion against Norwegian facilitation

[TamilNet, Saturday, 23 October 2004, 09:47 GMT]
Sri Lanka's parliament is to debate the motion tabled by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) demanding the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government to ouster the Norwegian facilitators from the country's peace process. The motion, moved by the Sinhala nationalist party, is to be taken up for debate on November 19th. The motion accuses the presence of the Norwegian facilitators as detrimental to the country.

JHU parliamentary group leader Venerable Athuraliya Ratana Thera moved the motion Friday for a one-hour debate.

Heated arguments ensued between parliamentarians of JHU and TNA as JHU and UPFA parliamentarians wanted the motion to be debated to a finish Friday.

Mr.Wimal Weeravanse, parliamentary group leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the main constituent of the UPFA government, alleged that the Speaker Mr.W.M.J.Lokkubandara has been supportive to the TNA.

Finally, the Speaker concluded that a one-hour debate on the motion that was accepted in the parliament Friday would be continued next month on November 19th, parliamentary sources said.