SJB: Only 88 MPs attended govt. group meeting

By Saman Indrajith

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday called the government to present to the parliament its road map for economic recovery.

“We need to know if the country is heading for a disorderly default. Has the government appointed financial and legal advisers for debt restructuring programmes? It is said that there is an attempt to hire a legal firm that had appeared for senior government figures in some cases” he said.

Premadasa asked the government to channel the funds allocated for road development to provide relief to the people. A new budget needs to be presented for that purpose, he said.

“What are the steps being taken to address the shortages in raw materials, diesel, petrol, kerosene, food and medicine. The government promised concessions to farmers and fishermen. Several Ministers and State Ministers have been appointed, but nothing has been done to grant relief to the people. Colossal amounts of funds have been allocated for road development from the last budget,” he said.

Premadasa claimed that only 88 MPs had attended Thursday’s SLPP group meeting, where it was decided that the government should continue under Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s leadership.

Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that an economic road map must be presented to the House next week. Sri Lanka would run out of fuel and fertilizer soon, he warned.

Wickremesinghe said the Opposition had delayed the no-confidence motion against the government following his request.

He said so when Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena asked why the Opposition had not presented its the no-confidence motion against the government as planned earlier.

“Last week, the Opposition said it would bring in the no-confidence motion against the government this week. Why hasn’t it been presented?” Gunawardena asked.

Wickremesinghe said it was not right to bring about a no-confidence motion before finance minister presented before Parliament following his visit to the IMF in Washington.

“We can get together and discuss what should be done after his speech,” Wickremesinghe said.