Parliament descended into uproar this morning when Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harshana Rajakaruna defended himself against allegations of receiving financial assistance from the President’s Fund for his postgraduate studies.
Responding to claims made in the House, Rajakaruna said, “There was nothing illegal about it. I applied for assistance and was selected after an interview based on merit. My father was in the Opposition at the time. This is clearly an attempt to discredit me and other opposition MPs.”
Rajakaruna said that he was awarded Rs. 500,000 and questioned why, out of Rs. 73 million disbursed in scholarships that year, only his name had been singled out. “Other recipients have not been named. Why just me?” he asked.
He further drew parallels to past recipients of scholarships, citing the late Minister Lalith Athulathmudali and even JVP founder Rohana Wijeweera. “Wijeweera received a scholarship abroad too,” he stated.
This comparison prompted a sharp response from Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, who dismissed the reference to Wijeweera. “He received a scholarship from the Soviet Communist Party, not the Sri Lankan government,” Rathnayake clarified. “If opposition MPs tarnish their own images, what can the government do?”
Tensions in the chamber escalated when Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne refused to allow further responses from the Opposition. Several opposition MPs stood up, shouting in protest. The Speaker threatened to remove MP Mujibur Rahman for his aggressive conduct and cautioned MP Rajakaruna to moderate his language.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa called for equal treatment of both the government and the Opposition. “The Speaker must uphold fairness,” he said, urging the Chair to maintain balance during debates.
The controversy follows a statement made the previous day by Minister Anura Karunathilaka, who told Parliament that between 2005 and 2014, scholarships from the President’s Fund had been awarded to children and relatives of presidents, ministers, and MPs, including Rajakaruna’s relatives.
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