Majority of the government MPs joining the debate on the proclamation on status of emergency accused that terrorism and foreign forces are behind the series of protests against the government.
Acts of vandalism, arsenic attacks, beating and murdering a Parliamentarian are all characteristics of not a peaceful protest but of anarchism, the MPs alleged.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said in Parliament yesterday (27) that the government accepts democratic protests but rejects acts of terrorism or violence under the guise of protests.
Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, the Chief Government Whip said that there are now only “a group of madmen and drug addicts in the struggle ground.”
Meanwhile MP Wimal Weerawansa on the same note said that there is a conspiracy to overthrow the state and that cannot be allowed. He said that he does not want a ministerial portfolio from the President, but said that “I want my state”. Weerawansa also said that he is in no way disrespecting the demand of people, but said that conspirators are using public pressure to break the state. Whatever the political differences, the state should be saved from the conspiracy to overthrow it at this critical moment, Weerawansa added. Leader of the House Susil Premajayantha said that shadows of terrorism are lurking behind the public unrest. Premajayantha demanded the public to opt for democratic ways to topple a government.
While the government MPs argued that the “Aragalaya” protesters are supported by terrorism, the opposition MPs accused the government of trying to use emergency law to curtail public protests against the government.
Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka refusing the allegation that the public protests are violent in nature, said that the government is using police force to curtail public protests. He stressed that there is no terrorism in the country. “Government’s attempt to mark public protests as terrorist acts is a derogatory move,” Fonseka added.
SJB MP Patali Champika Ranawaka also pointed out using emergency law to subjugate already oppressed people, it is a criminal act. Meanwhile the Chief Opposition Whip SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said that the main Opposition is demanding an immediate election. Speaking during the emergency debate in Parliament Kiriella also said that people should be given the chance to elect the new government of their choice at a situation like this.
“The ruling party has lost its mandate as the President, Prime Minister and the cabinet had resigned. Those in the ruling party had appointed their own people to the government. This is nothing, but old wine in new bottles,” Kiriella said. Kiriella noted that no foreign country will support a government which is formed by changing heads of the government. “Some of the heads of foreign missions in Sri Lanka had informed us that they would not support Sri Lanka anymore. How are you going to get bridging finances in this situation? We have been informed that the staff level agreement which was to be signed with IMF has been delayed by few months. It is not likely that IMF assistance will come until middle of 2023,” Kiriella questioned.
by Daily News Sri Lanka
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