SJB will form broad alliance to face next elections: MP Madduma Bandara

SJB MPs Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Imthiaz Bakeer Markar addressing the press yesterday

By Asiri Fernando

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is working towards allying with other Opposition parties to face the next General Elections, MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said yesterday.

The SJB General Secretary›s statement regarding an alliance came in response to a question at a press conference attended by fellow SJB MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar at the Opposition Leader›s office.

«We are talking to our friends, Opposition parties and like-minded groups to form a broad alliance to face the next General Elections. By the next election, we believe that all Opposition parties will rally to this new alliance,» MP Madduma Bandara said.

He added that the alliance was open to persons within the United National Party (UNP) «who were not rejected» by the public.

MP Madduma Bandara acknowledged that the Opposition was aware the no-confidence motion against the Energy Minister would fail due to the two-thirds power the Government holds in Parliament.

«We knew that it would fail. We intended to use it to protest the unfair nature of the fuel price hike during this period of hardship and to raise public awareness of the Government›s efforts to sell off the rights and assets of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to foreign entities,» MP Madduma Bandara argued, pointing out that statements by some Government Ministers of a price hike reversal once the new Minister of Finance was appointed had turned out to be false.

The Opposition MP also blamed the Government for using the Police intelligence units to intimidate fellow SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara, following a statement by him in Parliament on corruption within the Police Department.

«MP Nanayakkara raised concerns about corruption in the Police. Now he is being investigated by the Police intelligence unit. Doesn’t a Parliamentarian have the right to raise concerns about corruption in public institutions? A parliament is a place where an MP can freely express his views and raise concerns. Why is this happening today?» the SJB MP questioned.

Madduma Bandara blamed the Government for its policy change on fertiliser use, pointing out that it could lead to a significant reduction in paddy cultivation. He charged that the Government’s push to introduce changes to the higher education legislation and its failed ‹online teaching› program have pushed teachers, academics and educators to the streets in protest.

«Instead of offering solutions to the problems raised by the protesting teachers, one senior Government Minister made derogatory remarks about them. Is this the reply of a responsible Government?» MP Madduma Bandara charged.

MP Bakeer Markar told the press that the Government›s track record thus far was not satisfactory and accused the State leadership of not being sensitive to the pressures that the public face daily.

Bakeer Markar raised concerns about moves to make changes to the ‘Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund’, pointing out that it could lead to the politicisation of the independent body.

«This move raises the question if the Government is trying to remove the independence of this trust fund in order to use its funds during this period, where our foreign currency reserves have dropped to a dangerous level due to poor management,» MP Bakeer Markar opined.

The SJB MP also said that the 20th Amendment to the Constitution had opened the door for the politicisation of key democratic institutions, such as the Election Commission.

«Over the years, the public trust in the Election Commission has improved. Following the 20th Amendment, persons close to the President have been appointed to independent public institutions. There are reports of internal discussions in the Government to not appoint some members of the Election Commission and to change some who are holding office in the commission at present,» MP Bakeer Markar stated, arguing that tampering with the independence of the Election Commission would lead to erosion of democracy and public trust in the institution.