SJB MPs storm out of meeting

By Akitha Perera and Ranil Dharmasena

Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) MPs walked out of a meeting with CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe on 31 August, following a heated argument with government MPs there.Dr. Weerasinghe arrived in Parliament to brief the MPs on the economic affairs of the country.

During the Q&A session, attorney-at-law, Wasantha Yapa Bandara, who joined the Opposition from the SLPP, asked Dr. Weerasinghe why the CBSL had ignored the continuous downgrades by rating agencies. He also asked Dr. Weerasinghe whether the CBSL and the Monetary Board were not responsible for the current economic disaster. MP Bandara said that CBSL officials and the Monetary Board members who are responsible for the disastrous economic policies were still holding office.

Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella asked the Governor why the CBSL had not informed the Parliament of the worsening economic situation before the middle of this year. Earlier, Dr. Weerasinghe told the MPs that when he assumed duties the usable dollar reserves of the Central Bank were down to 200 million US dollars.At that point the government MPs started interrupting the SJB MPs.

SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva told Dr. Weerasinghe that the Opposition MPs had warned the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government of the coming economic crisis. The government MPs insisted none of the Opposition MPs had done so in 2020 or 2021. When Dr. de Silva tried to prove his statement, a heated argument ensued, and the SJB MPs walked out. “The President is asking us to join the government. However, his MPs can’t even tolerate a question we ask. How can we work with a government composed of MPs like this?” Dr. de Silva said before leaving the meeting.