It was brought to the notice of the House yesterday to demarcate a separate place for the protestors and to re-demarcate the High Security Zone (HSZ) around the Parliament as the spate of protests around the Parliament complex during the past week had obstructed the movement of MPs to and from Parliament.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday that any person has the right to come to Parliament and meet their MPs but at the same time they had no right to obstruct the movement of Parliamentarians.
The Premier said the MPs from both sides were obstructed from coming to Parliament due to the protests last week. We brought the matter to the attention of the Speaker and asked that steps be taken so that no MP is obstructed from coming to the House.
The Premier said the countries such as the UK has designated special places for demonstrations.
“ If someone wants to come and talk to us they can do so. We need to debate issues but we cannot allow obstructing the movement of MPs. Now we have strengthened the Parliament. This is not the place it was before where MPs came to raise their hands and go off,” he said.
However, Joint Opposition Leader Dinesh Gunawardena accused the Government of depriving the rights of the constituents to meet their MPs by blocking the Parliament road.
MP Gunawardena said, there should be a clear demarcation of what constitutes the HSZ around the Parliament. It is the right of the people to come to Parliament to meet their representatives, he said.
The Prime Minister said, the Speaker can discuss the HRZ matter and inform the MPs. There is no HSZ around the President’s House or the Prime Minister’s office as there are no emergency regulations in operation. But the Parliament can decide on the HSZ for its surrounding area due to the special privileges we have under the law, he said.
Meanwhile, the Joint Opposition MPs were among those who had to face a tear gas and water spray attack as the Police dispersed a group of protestors near the Parliament roundabout last afternoon.
UPFA Ratnapura District MP Ranjith de Zoysa told the media that he along with nine other JO MPs had gone to talk to the protestors who were former members of Local Government bodies when they came under attack.
MP Zoysa said, this is a violation of the parliamentary privileges of the MPs. The Speaker should look into the matter.
Leader of the House Minister Lakshman Kiriella said, it was the duty of MPs to be in Parliament and not loiter on the roads. Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala who was in the Chair said, he would refer the matter to the Speaker.