By Saman Indrajith

Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella, on Wednesday, told Parliament that if the incumbent government had not antagonised India by allowing China to consolidate its power here, there would not have been delays in obtaining Indian Covid vaccines.

Participating in an adjournment debate on the prevailing pandemic situation in the country, MP Kiriella said that the government had created problems with neighbouring India without giving thought to the possible repercussions. The government had allowed China to expand its power base here. That action upset India and her concerns. India has problems with China, Nepal and Pakistan, but did not have problems with us. Now, this government paved the way for that. If we had been on good terms with India, we could have obtained the vaccine easily. Now we have missed that chance.

“The government is asking for our support. We are ready to support the government to implement health related policies and decisions but not going to support them in implementing their political plans. The government is now in a difficult position. That is why it is asking for our support. If they go for a lockdown there would be an economic disaster. If they do not go for a lockdown, then there would be a health disaster. What do we want to choose – the health disaster or the economic disaster?

“Before extending our support to the government we must bring to its notice the way it treats the Opposition MPs. The government has arrested MP Rishad Bathiudeen. He is being used as a crowbar to be thrown out of the house whenever there is lightning. Whenever the government is in a tight spot, it gets Bathiudeen arrested. This time the government could not face the public opposition for its failure to arrest the mastermind of the Easter Sunday attacks. When pressure mounted, the government arrested Bathiudeen. Our MPs are harassed. You have appointed committees to deprive our leaders of their civic rights. Now, you are asking for our support. I like to tell the government if you are serious about securing our support then you should do it nicely and properly as a responsible government. When the government had 148 seats in parliament, it thought that it was all powerful and it could do anything. Now, it cannot do without out support.”