Kiriella tells mouthful about govt. working on cross purposes

By Saman Indrajith

Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday that the country was saddled with a government that took action to keep the bars and liquor shops open and wanted Parliament closed, citing COVID-19 pandemic as the reason.

At the commencement of business of the day, in Parliament, the Chief Opposition whip said that a motion was to be submitted by the government preventing Parliament from sitting on Thursday and Friday this week. “We could not summon Parliament as per the usual sitting calendar. We lost 25 such days because of the pandemic.

Although the House is not meeting, the problems in the country are continuing to pile up. We need time to discuss these issues here. But the government brings motions preventing parliament meetings being held. It is the very same government that keeps the bars and tavern open,” Kiriella said.

“We have serious issues with regard to the government’s agenda. Not a single item to be moved this week with regard to the CEB, but in the meantime a group arrived from the US in a great hurry to sign a deal to buy 40 percent shares of the Yudaganavi plant at night, the other day. Where and when are we going to debate such issues if the government does not allow parliament to be convened. Last night the government announced that there was a decrease in the Covid-19 infections. If the pandemic is under control and its threat is decreasing then why does the government want to put off parliament meetings? We call on the Speaker to take action to prevent the moving of motion not to hold parliament meetings. The Speaker is there to protect the rights of the MPs not to dance to the tune of the government. So, ensure that we can debate the issues related to the Yudaganavi power plant this week in parliament,” Kiriella said.