Speaker said MPs have a 'democratic right' to replace him

The main opposition, United National Party (UNP), insisted that the five bills on tax and fiscal amendments were passed illegally on Thursday.

Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera urged speaker WJM Lokubandara to convene a party leaders' meeting in the parliament to resolve the matter.

'Appoint' new speaker

The speaker who is also a member of the UNP told the MPs that he could only convene a meeting provided MPs accept his verdict that the bills were passed with a majority of 25.

"I made the ruling according to my conscience. If you want me to resign please let me know. You do have the democratic right to elect a new speaker if I am making undemocratic decisions," he told the House on Friday.

I made the ruling according to my conscience. If you want me to resign please let me know. You do have the democratic right to elect a new speaker if I am making undemocratic decisions Speaker WJM Lokubandara

Joseph Michael Perera who is also a former speaker said Lokubandara failed to conduct the third round of voting by calling MPs names as urged by the UNP.

" Our position is that these bills were not legally passed according to the parliamentary Standing Orders," Perera told the parliament.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa's political ally, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), also questioned the legality of the bills passed.

In a press conference held in the parliamentary complex, JVP legislator Anura Kumara Dissnayake said it was not clear which version of the bills were announced passed as pandemonium broke out during the vote.

Trust undermined - JVP

"We asked Hon. Speaker to inform us as to which version was passed yesterday," MP Dissanayake said.

Peoples trust on democracy has been undermined due to this kind of decisions, the JVP parliamentarian added.

	Pandemonium broke out in the House on Thursday as the tax bills were passed

UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe on Thursday opposed the electronic system of voting arguing that it was not declared earlier in party meetings.

Speaker Lokubandara suggested that the voting can be done in the traditional system but a major opposition from JVP members of parliament created a chaos in the premises.

The aim of the bills is said to be introduced to increase the state revenue introducing more taxes. The dispute ended up in a punch up between the members of different parties.

However the speaker announced that all five bills had become law during the scuffle. According to the reporters, the members were certainly bruised but not injured.