Speaker of the House, Ashoka Ranwala, has announced his intention to discuss recent parliamentary conduct with newly elected Jaffna District MP Dr. Archuna Ramanathan. MP Ramanathan sparked controversy after occupying the seat designated for the Leader of the Opposition during the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament and allegedly making racial statements.
In response to these actions, Speaker Ranwala expressed his commitment to addressing the issue directly with the MP and considering further actions as necessary. During a media interaction in Kandy on November 24, he stated, “We do not know what his ambition is as an individual. The ambition of the people he represents is very clear. The people do not expect such a thing in the country today.”
He emphasized that the aspirations of the constituents transcend regional divisions, uniting for national development. Speaker Ranwala clarified that this behavior reflects an individual’s actions, saying, “We will speak with the MP, inspect all his Facebook accounts and, thereafter, initiate a probe.” He concluded with a call for a measured approach, stating, “Let’s act intelligently and clarify this in the future.”
