The committee appointed by the Speaker of Parliament to look into the recent war of words and claims of alleged assaults involving State Minister Diana Gamage and SJB MPs Sujith Sanjaya Perera and Rohana Bandara convened its first meeting today (Oct. 25).

Chaired by Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse, the committee consists of MPs Chamal Rajapaksa, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Gayantha Karunatilleka and Imthiaz Bakeer Markar.

Speaking to the media following the meeting, the Deputy Speaker said State Minister Piyal Nishantha was identified as a key witness of the incident. Accordingly, he will be summoned to the next committee meeting, scheduled for November 06, to obtain a statement.

After that, State Minister Gamage and the two MPs of the main opposition will be summoned before the panel for inquiries.

During Wednesday’s meeting, the committee members also decided to seek the assistance of two female MPs for its onward investigations.

The Deputy Speaker vowed to take firm action against the MPs regardless of their positions.

After the aforesaid unruly events unfolded in Parliament, the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (Oct. 23) gave the nod to establish an independent body to oversee the conduct of MPs. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe had tabled a joint proposal in this regard.

Cabinet approval was also given to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill after taking into account the views of the Speaker and political party leaders.

It was reported that President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who presided over Monday’s meeting of Cabinet of Ministers, had rebuked the unruly behaviour of MPs.