Leader of the House and Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has urged Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to rule Samagi Janabalawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Harin Fernano out for violating Standing Orders despite being an experienced Parliamentarian.

He made this request while raising a Point of Order in Parliament on Wednesday, Jan 20. He raised his objection while Harin Fernando was on his feet. Dinesh said:

“The content of Harin Fernando's speech should be qualitative. I refer to Standing Order 83 (1). The personal conduct of the President, or the Acting President, Members of Parliament, Judges, or other persons engaged in the administration of justice shall not be raised, except upon a substantive motion; and in any proceedings, question to a Minister, or remarks in a debate on a motion dealing with any other subject reference to the conduct of any such person, shall be out of order.

Let me refer to subsection 2 in the same Standing Order. Judge’ means the Chief Justice, the President of the Court of Appeal, and every other judge of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal appointed by the President by Warrant under his hand.

Under this provision, a decision by the Supreme Court or by its justices, or any document published under the signature of the President, can be criticized personally only under this Standing Order. Harin Fernando is not a novice Parliamentarian. The Speaker can allow him to make such a statement on the Supreme Court judgement, justices, or the conduct of the President only under the due procedure.

We have protected discipline while being in both the Government and the Opposition. We have to protect these values, regardless of whether we are on the Government’s side or the Opposition’s side.”