Safeguarding Parliamentary traditions vital - Speaker

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided yesterday when Parliament met at 9.30 am. The Speaker stated that the President accepted the resignation of the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees Priyankara Jayaratne on November 22, 2010. After the session of oral answers to questions, the Speaker announced that the post of Deputy Speaker had fallen vacant. Leader of the house and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva proposed the name of MP Chandima Weerakkody for the post. Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardene seconded the proposal. Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga: We have no objection in Weerakkody being elected to the post of Deputy Speaker but at the party leaders meeting we have requested to grant certain posts in the House to the opposition in keeping with democracy.   Read more:www.dailynews.lk/2010/11/24/pol03.asp