Colombo orders probe into parliament incident

The speaker of the Sri Lanka parliament yesterday ordered an inquiry into an incident where members in the public gallery whistled, shouted and clapped at the end of a no-confidence vote against the Minister of Interior John Amaratunga.

The public gallery was packed with supporters of Amratunga on the day of the voting last Wednesday.

The no-confidence motion was defeated by 35 votes, but the minister's supporters chanted slogans before the house was adjourned. The issue has drawn strong protests from the main opposition People's Alliance (PA).