A parliamentary debate on the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict was postponed yesterday as SJB Kalutara District MP Ajith P. Perera, who called for the adjournment debate, was not present in the House.
Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih adjourned the session until 9:30 a.m. today (19), despite strong objections from Opposition MPs, sparking a heated exchange of words in the chamber.
The situation escalated when SLMC MP Nizam Kariyappar attempted to move the motion in Perera’s absence. However, Leader of the House Minister Bimal Rathnayake and Minister Vijitha Herath argued that a debate motion could not be moved by an MP on behalf of another. The resulting procedural dispute led to the session being suspended.
Opposition Leader and SJB Sajith Premadasa, along with 20 Opposition MPs, demanded a debate on the conflict earlier in the day, pointing out its potential repercussions for Sri Lanka, particularly for t15,000 to 20,000 Lankans working in Israel and the country’s tea exports to Iran.
Premadasa said that the conflict could trigger oil price shocks and negatively impact Sri Lanka’s economy, including the services and agriculture sectors, calling it a “limited nuclear conflict” with regional security implications. He called for an urgent debate, requesting that Standing Orders be suspended to accommodate it.
Ajith P. Perera, told the House that the debate could be held at 3:30 p.m., noting the national significance of the issue. However, his absence at the critical moment led to the postponement of proceedings.
Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake said that while the government was open to the discussion, procedural integrity must be maintained. “We are willing to consider the request, but we need to follow Standing Orders,” he said, hinting at confusion within the Opposition over its own proposals. He asked Opposition MPs to remain in the Chamber to participate in the debate.
Dayasiri Jayasekara, stressed the need for a clear and uninterrupted debate, warning against politicising the issue.
Despite the Opposition’s appeals, the session was adjourned, with the government and the Speaker’s office indicating willingness to revisit the matter today, if proper procedure is followed.
Premadasa, in closing remarks, expressed disappointment at the delay and called for extended time to conduct a substantive debate, saying: “We’re not working with amateurs — we’re working with experts, and we need adequate time to address this serious issue.”
By Saman Indrajith