By Shamindra Ferdinando

Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) says the dissident SLPP group should explain whether it is still in the government parliamentary group.

“Having accused the SLPP founder and Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa of pursuing a US agenda to bring the country under the Super Power’s domination, how could the rebel group remain in the SLPP parliamentary group?, lawmaker Rahuman asked.

Pointing out that Water Supply Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara had on Wednesday (16) endorsed allegations against Finance Minister Rajapaksa, MP Rahuman said that the divided SLPP factions owed the country an explanation.

Responding to another query, the opposition MP emphasised that except SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena, all other members of the dissident group had voted for the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, enabling dual citizen Basil Rajapaksa to enter Parliament as a National List MP in July last year.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa brought in the 20th Amendment in Oct. 2020 repealing the 19th Amendment.

The top SJB MP said that the rebel group couldn’t absolve itself of the responsibility for the enactment of the dictatorial 20th Amendment, which was inimical to democracy and good governance.

Rahuman asked the SLPP whether the administration considered the dissident group part of it. “The position taken by the SLFP is not clear. In spite of the SLFP being part of the dissident group, it retains two Cabinet portfolios and two State Ministries.”

Rahuman asked whether the rebel group would soon operate separately in Parliament. If that were to happen, the government would no longer command a 2/3 majority in Parliament. The dissident group, including Ven. Atureliye Rathana thera, National List MP of Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya comprises nearly 30 MPs. At the onset of the new administration in August 2020 former Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa, PC, distanced himself from the SLPP.

However, Dr. Rajapaksa hasn’t formally joined the rebel group though he questioned the government’s policy decisions from time to time.

MP Rahuman said that the government’s internal problems had their toll on the country.

Asked by The Island whether the SJB took the dissidents’ accusations seriously, MP Rahuman said that it would be the responsibility of the government to counter them. Pointing out the Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa had without any hesitation defended his brother Basil, MP Rahuman said that there were actually two major allegations. Minister Basil Rajapaksa has been accused of promoting US interests and also backing a project that had been carried out by Western powers against Indonesia in the 1990s.

The Parliament should heed those accusations as the rebels’ accusation that a section of the SLPP deliberately caused economic ruin to pave the way for external interventions seemed realistic. “But, we do not have to reach conclusions. Let the SLPP government respond to these accusations,” MP Rahuman said.

The MP noted that a section of the rebel group had declared that it wouldn’t rejoin the Rajapaksas but some seemed to be still interested in some sort of compromise. The latter only targeted Minister Basil Rajapaksa whereas sacked Minister Weerawansa went flat out against the Rajapaksas.

Whatever the consequences, the President and the Premier would stand by their brother Basil, Rahuman said. “Don’t forget the President and the Premier went to the extent of manipulating their partners to bring Basil Rajapaksa into the Parliament through the backdoor,” MP Rahuman said.

The lawmaker said that the recent Colombo protest indicated the growing resentment of those struggling to make ends meet.