Sri Lanka Opposition walks out of the parliament, Leader says government MPs assaulted him

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) today walked out of the Chamber as a mark of protest against the government during the 2012 budget presentation.



The Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe addressing media this evening at his office following the walkout said the ruling party MPs assaulted him and the United National Party (UNP) MPs in the House.

The opposition legislators withdrew from the House after a verbal spat with ruling party side when President Mahinda Rajapaksa commenced delivering the budget speech.

Soon after the President commenced the budget speech, opposition members lifted placards with the words, "shame".

A few minutes later a heated exchange of words between the UNP and governing party members resulted in the President's speech being disrupted for a few minutes.

The President commenced the speech after the UNP walked out of the Chamber.

UNP MP Jayalath Jayewardena said that they withdrew due to harassment.

One of the first UNP MPs to walk out of the Chamber, parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva told ColomboPage that the party opposed the undemocratic governance of the current administration.

He said the UNP protested against the dictatorial system of governing by the Rajapaksa administration.

According to Dr. de Silva, the government's undemocratic actions have been displayed by its recent actions with regard to the Expropriation Act and the actions against former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka.