Opposition MP asked to hand over cell phone in Sri Lanka parliament during budget debate

A legislator from Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) today had to hand over his cell phone to the Secretary General of parliament.

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody had asked UNP parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara to hand over his mobile phone after he had played a recorded speech of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the House.
Jayasekara had handed over the phone, but had said there was nothing wrong in playing a speech made by the President in the House.
Meanwhile, President Rajapaksa had today inquired about the attendance of government MPs during the budget debate.
The President had made the inquiry after receiving reports that many governing party members were not present during the budget debate.