Speaker’s criticism of govt., hailed by Opposition

Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) MP Lakshman Kiriella yesterday defended Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena in Parliament The former UNPer said the government’s failure to provide documents demanded by the Opposition was the main reason for delay in the parliamentary process.

The Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District MP said the Speaker had aptly responded to the allegation that there was a delay in the parliamentary process. “I saw in the media today that the Speaker has said there had been some delay because the government did not make available necessary documents. This is the truth. How could we proceed when the government keeps Parliament in the dark?

They have not yet been able to table in Parliament the agreement with the IMF. How could we debate the Budget proposals without seeing the content of this agreement? The Opposition has been asking for the IMF agreement for months. We ask the government to table that agreement in Parliament.