Parliament went into an uproar when Opposition MP Harshana Rajakaruna responded to the allegation on him seeking assistance from the President's Fund. "We applied for assistance from the Present's Fund for my post-graduate studies. There was nothing illegal about it. I was selected as a recipient after subjecting me to an interview," Rajakaruna said. "Even JVP founder Rohana Wijeweera was awarded a scholarship while late Minister Lalith Athulathmudali also was awarded a scholarship to study abroad," he added. Leader of the House Bimal Ratnayake said the government cannot help if Opposition members tarnish their own images through their actions. "What can we do if Opposition members tarnish their own images. They draw Rohana Wijeweera to the issue. Wijeweera went to study abroad through a scholarship offered by the Soviet Union to the Communist Party of Sri Lanka," he said. Uproar broke out when Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne refused to allow Opposition members to respond. The Opposition members stood up from their seats shouting at the Speaker. The Speaker said he would be compelled to remove MP Mujibur Rahman who seemed to be aggressive at that time. The Speaker also warned MP Rajakaruna to watch his language. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa stressed that the Speaker should treat the ruling party and the Opposition equally.
