Debate postponed as no English/Tamil translation of PRECIFAC report

The debate in Parliament which was scheduled to take place on Tuesday on the report by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate into serious acts of fraud and corruption (PRECIFAC) had to be postponed after sittings began as there was no English or Tamil translation of the report.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran raised the issue over the report being available only in the Sinhala language.

He said that he will not be in a position to refer the report during the debate as the report is only in Sinhalese.

Joint opposition Parliamentarian Vasudeva Nanayakkara, a former Minister of National Languages, however insisted that the debate must take place.

A heated exchange ensued between Sumanthiran and Nanayakkara with Sumanthiran telling Nanayakkara it was shameful that a former Minister of National Languages should not be concerned that a national report is only in Sinhalese.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya later apologized saying the report was yet to be translated into English and Tamil owing to the number of pages in the report and sought the opinion of the House on if to proceed with the debate or not.

Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella proposed that the debate be postponed and the House agreed. (Colombo Gazette)