NFF vows to regain parliamentary privileges

By Chamodi Gunawardana

The National Freedom Front (NFF) yesterday asserted that it would regain the parliamentary privileges it enjoyed as a constituent party of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

NFF District Leader and UPFA Parliamentarian Udayashantha Gunasekara stressed at a media briefing that the Government’s objective was to keep the Opposition quiet. 

“The Parliament decided to remove the recognition of the UPFA constituent parties’ leaders. It will abolish all the privileges which party leaders have enjoyed. This obviously deprives the party of the opportunity to address the House. Nevertheless, we will regain this recognition,” he emphasised.

“We expect to use this situation to be more powerful. We will face this critical moment as one group,” he stressed.

Gunasekara alleged that Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R. Sampanthan became the Opposition Leader because of Wickremesinghe’s recommendation. 

“Wickremesinghe offered those portfolios to those he could guide,” Gunasekara said.

Criticising the decision over the Bribery Commission’s dissolution, NFF Deputy General Secretary Kapila Gamage claimed that the Government was interfering in the Supreme Court’s workings. 

“The Bribery Commission’s top officers are appointed by the Supreme Court. Only the President can remove the commission’s Chairman and Commissioners through a Cabinet paper. Those officers can also resign from their portfolios. The Prime Minister has no right to interfere in this process,” he said.