Sri Lanka, March 15 -- New Democratic Front (NDF) MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake told the Speaker yesterday that all 225 Members of Parliament (MPs) should be given a special holiday on Saturday, March 15 to participate in the countrywide animal survey that has been declared by the Government.

The Opposition MP said that since the Government has declared a countrywide animal survey including counting of monkeys on March 15 from 8.00 am to 8.05 am, if the Parliamentarians are not given a holiday to take part in the animal survey, that the 225 MPs may be also counted and added to the animal survey results. The MP made the comments during the Committee stage Budget debate held yesterday.

"Who is going to count the monkeys and other animals...