Legislature might lose respect, powers, warns former Prime Minister

Day not far off when people set Parliament on fire – MP Rahman

By Saman Indrajith

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday warned that there was a great danger of parliament losing both its respect and powers in the coming days if it failed to reach a consensus to find solutions to problems faced by the people immediately.

Wickremesinghe called on Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to summon at least party leaders for a discussion on the grave danger posed by Parliament.

“Showing off the numbers would not help find solutions. The government could not name a person for the Deputy Speaker from their side. If they had done so, the entire country would have seen the number of MPs it has in parliament now. The problem the people faced is not who has a majority. We must find solutions to their problems soon. Otherwise, we all will have to face the consequences,” Wickremesinghe said.

 SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman said that the day would not be much longer when the people come together to set Parliament on fire because parliament cannot find solutions to their problems. “Parliament has to meet behind barricades and iron fences with the rounds of police and security force members. We have faced this situation because people’s voice is no longer represented in this House. What is the use of a parliament that meets in fear of people invading it at any time? People have taken to the streets. The President cannot go to his office. Nobody knows where he has gone into hiding. Ministers cannot go on the roads. The Prime Minister has to cancel his events and ceremonies. They cannot see the faces of people. This House no longer is a house of representatives of people,” Rahuman said.

Meanwhile, Police Headquarters sources said that the roads and byroads leading to Parliament would be closed till Saturday. The roads were closed yesterday, and the closure would continue till Saturday morning. Accordingly, the roads to Parliament from the Polduwa Junction to Jayanthipura Junction and the byroads from Jayanthipura Junction to the Denzil Kobbekaduwa Mawatha would remain closed.