PM delivers special statement on progress of IMF talks
The House was in uproar yesterday (05) as the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe delivered a special statement on the progress of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in the presence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who visited the Chamber in the morning.
Wickremesinghe stated that the initial round of discussion with the IMF was successful, however, the assistance would depend on the debt restructuring plan that Sri Lanka proposes. Reaching the end of his speech, the Premier once again highlighted the importance of a joint attempt to revive the country’s economy.
Wickremesinghe said if NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has a better plan to recover the economy, he should present it to either the President or the House. If AKD could resurrect country’s economy within six months, I am ready to give up my position as the PM, Wickremesinghe added. “If that plan is better and more effective than the plan we are implementing now, we will implement it. Such a plan would be brilliant enough to win the Nobel Prize in Economics. Therefore, if there is such a plan, I am ready to resign and let him take up this position. I am ready to give up my position and support that programme. Because the positions I hold are not new to me. At a time when the country has become anarchic and no one has taken responsibility, I have not accepted this position out of desire for the chair.”
At this juncture, the House shifted into a mode of commotion as the Opposition MPs started chanting “Gota Go Home” slogan and displaying placards. While the protesters shouted, PM Wickremesinghe said he would “request the President to appoint AKD as the PM, lest his economic plan would work.” Wickremesinghe also said that the country’s economy has collapsed due to the protest-culture in the country. He added that there is no need or use of carrying out protests against the government during the crisis. Speaker of the House demanded the protesters to stop making a chaos to which they did not pay any heed. A smiling President was seen involved in a casual talk with Leader of the House during the protest. Due to the uproar the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardhana suspended the House for ten minutes. The Opposition MPs continued to protest while government MPs including S.B. Dissanayake, Jayantha Ketagoda and Prasanna Ranatunga flocked around the President. Ex-Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who was present in Parliament after sometime, stood before the front line in the government’s side of the Chamber and was seen saying something to the protesters with an amused look on his face. The President left the Chamber after the session was suspended. PM Wickremesinghe remained in the House. Opposition MPs shouted claiming that they were able to chase Rajapaksas out from Parliament and it is the responsibility of the public to chase them out from politics.
Meanwhile, PM Wickremesinghe and the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa crossed swords in the House when he said, “the present Opposition is the weakest one ever in Sri Lanka.” Wickremesinghe took the jab at Premadasa when the latter vehemently criticized the government for not providing any solace to the public suffering in the crisis. “This is an Opposition that does not know how to grab power. It has learnt nothing. Come to me for about two months or so and I will teach you how to grab power.” In reply, Premadasa said, “He learnt politics from my father. We have taught him the best lesson ever. We decreased his seats to zero in the Chamber. Even the one seat he has is through the national list.”
Meantime, the Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena defended Minister Harin Fernando when he was called ‘a pissek’ (a madman) by the latter’s former colleague SJB MP Chaminda Wijesiri. Minister Gunawardena observed that MP Wijesiri either should withdraw his comment or be removed from the Chamber as a penalty for using inappropriate language. Responding to this, MP Wijesiri said, “I didn’t call you pissa. There is someone in this House, husband and wife; they use two separate vehicles to come to Parliament. I called that person pissa. Make an inquiry about that.”
“You should withdraw this comment. It is unbecoming to use words as such in the House.” Speaker told MP Wijesiri. Leader of the House also observed that, “We reached this decision at a party leaders’ meeting to remove MPs from the House who use such words and would not withdraw them. Why are you not removing him from the Chamber?” Speaker again requested MP Wijesiri to withdraw his comment. In response MP Wijesiri said, “I will withdraw it. There are many who commented pissek in this Chamber. Minister Harin Fernando also once said pissek. If they withdraw their comments, I would as well.” Minister Fernando in reply said, “Well, I called pissek those days and the Speaker could have taken action against me then. I still stand my ground. Also, don’t call me a ‘deal-karaya’, everybody knows whether I took money or spend for the SJB. Those who call otherwise will have their mouths going all rotten.”
Due to the commotion in the House, the SJB, for the second time, was not able to present the House three bills pertaining to the increase of 25% youth representation in Parliament.
The proclamation related to the resolution made in accordance with the powers vested to the President in terms of Section 2 of the Essential Public Service Act No. 61 of 1979 will be submitted to the Parliament for approval without debate on the 6th.