News
SJB blames delay in covid vaccine supplies on govt. antagonising India
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.”
NPP Parliamentarian Asoka Ranwala who was appointed the 22nd Speaker of Sri Lanka’s Parliament, on 21st November has resigned from his position today [13], in the wake of the controversy surrounding his educational qualifications.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has officially appointed members to the Port City Economic Commission.
Accordingly Harsha Amarasekera, President’s Counsel, has been appointed as the Chairman while Damien Amal Cabraal, Mohan Ray Abeywardena, Sanjaya Kulatunga, and Dr. Harsha Subasinghe were appointed as members of the Port City Economic Commission
The official letters of appointment were handed over to the members by the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today (13).
“We will not allow the trust the people have placed in us to be undermined in any way,” stated President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during a meeting with the heads of state media today (13).
He further emphasised, “Regardless of their status in government, if mistakes are made, we will not hesitate to take appropriate action.”
The President further explained:
“For more than seven decades, the people of this nation have built and dismantled various governments. For the first time, we stand with a profound understanding of the historic mandate entrusted to us and the National People’s Power on two occasions.
The people placed their faith in the National People’s Power (NPP) government, hoping for a standardised and stable country. We will not tarnish that extraordinary trust, even by the slightest misconduct.
Simply put, our government is not here to shield anyone who errs, for any reason. Be it within the broader framework of the country or within our administration, anyone found guilty of wrongdoing will face consequences. We will not hesitate to act decisively and at the right time. In essence, our government will not shield anyone who makes a mistake, regardless of the reason. Whether the mistake occurs within the country or at any level within our government, we will not hesitate to take decisive action. Every necessary step will be taken at the appropriate time without delay.”
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also reaffirmed his government’s unwavering commitment to upholding the trust placed in them by the people, who have endured decades of deception. He pledged to work tirelessly to build a better nation.
The Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, Director-General of Government Information, Harsha Bandara, and the heads of state media were present at the meeting.
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