SJB Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne says that although Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had proposed that a female be elected unopposed to the vacant post of Deputy Speaker of Parliament, the Rajapaksas nominated a male and elected him as the deputy speaker opposing the PM’s proposal.
“By this act the Rajapaksas have made it clear at the outset that they will not support Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as he desires.” Eran Wickramaratne said.
In response to the Prime Minister’s request for the support of all parties in Parliament, the Samagi Jana Balawewa had stated that it would support the people’s friendly proposals brought by the government.
Addressing a media briefing at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo on Tuesday evening, MP Eran Wickremaratne said that unfortunately, Rajapaksa faction appointed the person wanted by them in defiance of the Prime Minister’s proposal, and this seems to be a warning to the Prime Minister that he could not manipulate this government as he wished.
“The Prime Minister in his address to the nation, said that due to declining government revenue, rising government expenditure, the inability to find even a million dollars from foreign reserves, and the lack of money to import fuel and gas, the power cuts would have to be extended to 15 hours in the future. Although he described the consequences, he did not offer any solutions.” Eran Wickramaratne added.
MP Wickramaratne said that in his address to the nation, the Prime Minister said the power cuts would have to be extended to 15 hours in the future due to declining government revenue, rising government spending, the inability to find even one million dollars from foreign reserves and the lack of money to import fuel and gas.
“Although PM described the consequences of pushing the country into the abyss by Rajapaksas, he has not come up with any solution” MP added.
“The only response shown by the PM was to say that he would have to print money to pay the salaries of public servants this month. The Rajapaksa government’s solution too was to print money. Accordingly, if the solution of Ranil Wickremesinghe government is also to print money, it is not possible to believe that the people will get any relief from this government as well” he said.
Eran Wickremaratne said it was unfortunate that there was no solution or replies to the serious problems that had arisen in the country in the Prime Minister’s address to the nation. (NewsWire)