The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) and the National People’s Power (NPP) said they have decided to boycott Parliament sessions for one week.
The Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa said yesterday that the SJB would boycott Parliament this week as no solutions have been offered to resolve the problems of the people.
“This is a horrible government.They have changed a few positions and they are all enjoying the luxuries whereas the people are in a terrible state. When we try to represent the voice of the people, these fools start shouting and disrupting us.
The majority of the population are really struggling. There are plenty of petrol, diesel and gas queues. With the change of government, the queues have become even longer.”
“Will this Parliament meet the needs of the people of this country? Therefore, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the Opposition have taken a decision.”
Premadasa said that the vistas of prosperity have become a curse to the country and the people are suffering.“This government has turned into a talk shop. There are no solutions to the problems facing this country. What’s more, the CEB Chairman comes to the COPE Committee and said that the President and Prime Minister pressured him to favour a foreign company. Now that Chairman has resigned. At a time when the country is suffering the government is still playing out and pilfering off commissions from the gas and even medicines.” When the government benches were riling him over his speech, Premadasa asked them to keep quiet without simply shouting in parliament and challenged the government MPs to step out onto the streets if they dare. He said while people are struggling at gas queues, the government ministers have been robbing from that too.
“This government has no heart and they have no compassion or sympathy for the difficulties of the people. This is a government that is cheating the people. Hence, we will not be part of this government’s lies. Therefore, we will stand with the people on the streets,” he added.
Meanwhile, NPP leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said all Opposition Parties have decided to boycott Parliament this week as there is no solution to the people’s problems.
Dissanayake also said that a plan should be submitted to Parliament immediately on how to rebuild the country.
“Although we meet in Parliament, what is the situation outside? Today a situation has arisen where children are dying in hospitals due to the lack of medicines. The ordinary citizens are dying while standing in fuel and gas queues and farmers are lamenting not knowing what to do next. There were so many protests being staged throughout the country mainly focusing on the President, but the President maintained his arrogant attitude and claimed he has done everything best. The people’s demand for his departure are very fair as what is the point in having an arrogant leader who cannot even fulfill the basic needs of the people?”
Therefore, the SJB, the SLFP and the NPP will boycott Parliament sittings this week from Tuesday.