Ranawaka accuses Sajith of launching witch-hunt

United Republic Front Leader and SJB MP Patali Champika Ranawaka, on Sunday, said that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa had launched  a witch-hunt against the Opposition MPs who did not join the boycott of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government policy statement in Parliament on Wednesday (07).

Speaking at a URF rally in Bandaragama, Ranawaka said that Premadasa had deprived the dissident Opposition MPs of time speak in Parliament “When the President commenced his speech, the Opposition Leader and the Chief Opposition Whip walked out of the chamber. Some SJB MPs also followed them. I was listed among the MPs to participate in the two-day debate on the President’s police statement. When I arrived for the debate, I was told that my name had been struck off by the Chief Opposition Whip’s Office. Then, I contacted Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella and sought an explanation. I was told that the Leader of the Opposition had instructed him not to allocate time for those who had not boycotted the President’s speech. I pointed out that it was unjust and I had not been informed of a boycott. If there had been a plan for a boycott we should have been informed, or at least a phone call should have been given. Then, I was told that the Opposition MPs should have followed the Opposition Leader when he walked out of the Chamber. We are not anyone’s yes-men, we never have been and will never be,” Ranawaka said, adding that it was appalling to see the Opposition leader depriving his MPs of an opportunity to speak in Parliament.

Kiriella was not immediately available for comment.