Patali in Parliament exposes Govt.’s duplicity

• Alleges Govt. has failed to take action against those responsible for country’s bankruptcy 
• Insists Govt. has no ethical right to arrest youth engaged in the struggle

Independent MP Patali Champika Ranawaka claims a conspiracy is in play to seize power outside of democracy through the imposition of emergency laws. According to him, the Government is therefore

Independent MP  Patali Champika Ranawaka

attempting to continue the emergency regulations imposed to empower the security forces to suppress any opposition that may arise as a result. 

Ranawaka pointed out that on the other hand 5.5 million families have been left destitute in Sri Lanka and they have been forced to engage in a struggle due to their many trials and tribulations. “The choice we must make is between these two circumstances,” Ranawaka told Parliament during yesterday’s debate on the continuation of the emergency regulations. 

Confirming he will cast his vote against the emergency law, Ranawaka said the Government has no ethical right to arrest those engaged in the struggle after failing to take action against those who are responsible for the country’s state of bankruptcy.

“The Monetary Law Act of 1950 provides the legal provisions to take action against those who bankrupted the country, but no one is keen to file a case against them. Despite the Fiscal Responsibility Management Act being in place since 2020, Secretaries to the Ministry of Finance, Ministers of Finance and Treasury Secretaries since then have failed to execute their responsibilities according to it. In addition to the Rajapaksa family, action has also not been taken against those who facilitated the stealing of funds. What right then does the Government have to arrest youth engaged in a struggle due to the crisis created by those responsible?” he asked. 

While noting that the security forces have a responsibility to stop anyone from seizing power outside of democracy, Ranawaka said that continuing to use emergency laws to suppress the people who are already suffering immensely is a great travesty.