A group of opposition parliamentarians is set to formally urge Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne to launch an inquiry into the conduct of Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, accusing him of undemocratic behaviour during recent parliamentary proceedings.

The move comes in the wake of the Speaker’s decision on 20 May to appoint a three-member committee to investigate MP Dayasiri Jayasekara’s behaviour during a heated exchange in Parliament involving Government members, including Rathnayake and NPP MP Dr Kaushalya Ariyaratne.

In a written request endorsed by MPs Hector Appuhamy, Kavinda Jayawardene, Rohini Kaviratne, and Chitral Fernando, the opposition claims that Rathnayake “has failed to uphold the standards of conduct maintained by previous Leaders of the House.”

Meanwhile, the committee appointed by the Speaker on Friday (23) to look into Jayasekara’s conduct is chaired by Deputy Chairperson of Committees Hemali Weerasekara, with Minister Vijitha Herath and Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilake serving as members.