Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody said that the motion would be debated for two days and if the members call for a division a vote would be taken up at 6 pm on June 18.

Nine UPFA members Achala Jagoda, Malini Fonseka, Janaka Bandara, Udith Lokubandara, Shantha Bandara, JRP Suriyapperuma, Nimal Wijesinghe and R Duminda Silva submitted a no-date motion last week against possible UNHCR sponsored international investigation into accountability issues alleged to have taken place during the last phase of the North East conflict.

The motion reads that “Parliament resolves that the investigation to be conducted against Sri Lanka by the UNHCR should not be carried out on the ground that such a course of action is detrimental to the process of reconciliation and peace and that it erodes the sovereignty, dignity and stature of Sri Lanka.”

A special party leaders meeting was summoned yesterday on the request of UPFA members to consider whether this motion could be taken for debate next week of which the programme had been scheduled on a previous date. The meeting chaired by Deputy Speaker Weerakkody was attended by Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Ministers D.E.W. Gunasekera, Basil Rajapaksa, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Susil Premjayantha, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga and TNA Leader R. Samapanthan.

Opposition party leaders said that they needed to add amendments to the motion. JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake handed over a set of amendments and Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga said that his party’s proposed amendments would be handed over prior to debate.

Special Reporter