SJB MP Ajith Mannapperuma, who was recently suspended from Parliament for four weeks, has expressed that he sees the suspension as a fortunate turn of events.
He had been planning to boycott sessions in protest against the refusal to address his oral questions.
According to Mannapperuma, Parliament has become ineffective, and he intended to make a statement by abstaining from sessions. Regarding his suspension,
Mannapperuma stated, "I do not regret touching the mace, as it was a symbolic act of protest due to the unanswered question."
He further criticized the Speaker for not suspending Minister Tiran Alles, who had defied the Speaker's request to respond to Mannapperuma's question.
The incident unfolded when Mannapperuma and other SJB MPs entered the well of the House in protest after the Speaker announced the closure of the oral question sessions.
The Speaker explained that this decision was made in accordance with an agreement reached by party leaders to manage time effectively. As a result of the uproar, the Speaker had to suspend sessions for ten minutes. Mannapperuma will be unable to attend sessions until November 14, meaning he will not be present for the budget on November 13.
