UNP backs Karu

Friday, 16 November 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Insists that Speaker is honouring Constitution
Contends UPFA is disrupting House as it has no majority
Slams President Sirisena as originator of crisis

United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarians yesterday stood by the Speaker and rejected all charges aimed at him for tabling the no confidence motion and accepting the decision of the House, insisting that he was working within his powers and discharging his responsibilities with integrity.

Soon after the House was adjourned, addressing the media at a committee room in the Parliamentary complex, MP Patali Champika Ranawaka charged MP Rajapaksa and his supporters had disrupted the business of the Legislature and placed the entire country in a gridlock.

“We are not scared of a general election. But it should be conducted in a proper manner, honouring the Constitution of Sri Lanka. After seeing the fake government people’s unruly behaviour today (15) at the Chamber, do you think that they would allow holding of a peaceful election? We have 113 MPs today present in Parliament and they have 85,” he said.

UNP MP Rajitha Senaratne accused the Rajapaksa camp of bad behaviour in the House of Parliament and in front of the entire country. “The fake government behaved like thugs inside the Chamber because they clearly understood that their fake premier Mahinda Rajapaksa and the fake Cabinet do not command the majority. These fake people do not have power in Parliament. They tried to gain a majority but desperately failed. Now they know they would never, ever be able to get that. That is why they behave like thugs, not letting us show the majority in a democratic manner,” he said.

“President Sirisena’s behaviour is shameful and disgusting. He puts the entire country into chaos because of his personal problems with a single person. Now they are trying to disrupt Parliamentary business as well. This is not the democracy he promised to bring. This is not what we expected when we stepped out from the Rajapaksa regime to support him. He promised the nation that he would not misuse the powers of the executive presidency, but now he is going beyond those powers,” he added. (AH)