Parliament adjourns after uproar on slashing of Samurdhi benefits

Parliament adjourns after uproar on slashing of Samurdhi benefits

When parliament met this morning, United Opposition Member of Parliament Dinesh Gunawardena made an allegation that beneficiaries of Samurdhi are being removed these days from various areas in Sri Lanka and the related lists are being amended. The MP also brought forward relevant statistics in that respect and requested for a speedy solution in this

connection. During Dinesh's talk, a group of Opposition members adorned themselves with black bands and when the talk was being brought to a close, already prepared posters were seen being taken into their hands.

Since the relevant Minister S.B. Dissanaika was not present in parliament today Minister Gayantha Karunatilleka, Organiser of the government party mentioned soliciting time till next week to provide an answer to this issue when the House assumed somewhat of a heated environment at that moment. At that point what MP Dinesh said was that till the time S.B. was to come, names of Samurdhi beneficiaries would be scrapped off and therefore it would not be accepted as a proper response and MP Anura Kumara too voiced his agreement in that connection. Minister Ajith P. Perera opposed this slashing of Samurdhi as the UNP.

Under the above circumstances as there was a heated situation in Parliament, it was not possible to proceed further and the government faction found fault with the Opposition Party saying that an attempt is being taken to avoid the bond scam this afternoon. "These are not being relayed today over T.V. This is a pre-arranged 'nadagama", Minister Gayantha complained. As such, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya took steps to adjourn proceedings of parliament announcing that Minister S.B. would be contacted over the phone and the matter would be discussed and a meeting of party leaders will be called. About 15 minutes after that the House gathered once more and it was informed that Minister S.B. would be commenting on this tomorrow. The relevant video, from below