Sajith opposes Speaker's attempt to expunge comment in Parliament

The Speaker said Sajith Premadasa had mentioned 'failed state' in his comments to the house and wanted in expunged, which eventually led to an argument.

"Let me bring to the notice of this august assembly the present government is failed in their duty to present to the country the second and third quarter figures for the economic growth rates," Sajith Premadasa said in his earlier comments adding "this government and administration has woefully failed in providing these figures to the country as a whole, to this august assembly; the parliament. "

"During your speech, I think it is by mistake that you have mentioned that the country as a failed state, so permit me to expunge that part from your speech. That has nothing to do with us I think," said the Speaker of Parliament.

However, the Opposition Leader insisted he never mentioned 'failed state' and noted he only said failed, incompetent, in-act government & not the state.

The opposition leader was also not pleased when the microphone he was using was turned off from time to time when he was responding to the speaker's concerns.

" I have not uttered a word of a failed state. I am insisting, I know my English, please. Respect my linguistic skills. I have never mentioned a failed state. A failed state failed government, please understand the distinction, said the Opposition Leader who also said: "This is ludicrous, I mean I am sorry, I never mentioned the word failed state, you are totally wrong."

Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, also an opposition MP joined the argument noting there's nothing in the standing orders to expunge that term adding that is an opinion.