Colombo: Sri Lanka's highly divided Opposition showed rare unity today (Jun 10, 2004), pledging to discipline MPs from the minority Government, who allegedly beat two Buddhist monk legislators in unprecedented violence in Parliament.

Monk legislator Athuraliya Ratana from the nine-member all-clergy National Heritage Party admitted the sharp ideological differences among opposition parties, but said that they came together after Tuesday's (Jun 8, 2004) unprecedented brawl.

"There was a time when we were pondering if we should quit Parliament," Ratana said at the first joint combined opposition press conference since the April 2 elections. "After the physical attack on us, we are determined to stay on." "We are coming together not to topple the Government but to restore decency and democracy in Parliament," the monk said.

The combined Opposition said they had more legislators than the Government and would urge the Speaker, who is also a nominee of the opposition, to press disciplinary action against MPs who took part in the violence.

Ratana said two of the monks still in hospital had torn tissues while one had to use a catheter to pass urine after he was allegedly hit below the belt.

He said he himself was bruised after the attacks from ruling party legislators and rejected Government claims that Buddhist monks were not beaten up by them.