All standing orders of Parliament are being violated - Sajith Premadasa

Today, all the traditions, privileges and standing orders of Parliament are being violated

I suggest that MPs read the law books like Erskine May

Repression has been brought to collective votes as well

The President has not yet expressed his views on the 323 cases

The government should urgently reveal who the murderers of Lasantha Wickramatunga were

Sajith Premadasa emphasizes

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa questioned the violation of the privileges of Members of Parliament in Parliament today (07). At that time, the Opposition Leader pointed out that today, Parliament has reached a point where all the traditions, privileges and standing orders of Parliament are being violated. Speaking at the time, the Opposition Leader also expressed the following views regarding the government's repressive measures.

The Opposition Leader said that he had met with the Speaker, the Leader of the House and the President on the issue of privileges and that he had reached this point because there was no solution.

Although the Speaker himself talked about standing orders, tradition and procedure, the tradition has been destroyed today and that he suggested that all MPs read books on legal traditions like Erskine May. He even taught them to hold votes in friendly associations. Since this is not tradition, he should be flexible and provide the opposition with the necessary number of representatives in committees, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said in Parliament today.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that today there is repression for the cooperative elections, repression even in Kamburupitiya, repression even in Peradeniya University when speaking against the IMF, and that this repression cannot be approved.

At a time when there was a continuous delay in container clearance activities, there is a discussion in the country regarding 323 containers that were allegedly released without customs inspection, the current President, who is the Minister in charge of the subject, has not taken steps to explain the facts to the country in this regard. Also, since the delay in container clearance at the Colombo port is not beneficial for a country like ours that earns high income through exports and re-exports, questions were raised in Parliament under Standing Orders 27 (2). I also questioned the government about who will take responsibility for the 323 containers with red labels that were released without inspection. A prompt response is expected from the government in this regard.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said in Parliament today that he had questioned the Prime Minister on January 8 regarding the actions being taken regarding the murder of Lasantha Wickremesinghe and that although he did not make an analysis of the actions taken by the government recently as they would affect judicial proceedings, the government should intervene and conduct a transparent investigation into the murder of Lasantha Wickremesinghe.

The Opposition Leader said that a transparent investigation should be conducted in this regard, due justice should be done to their family and journalists, and steps should be taken to bring his killers to justice, and that the government should take steps to find his killers.

(Achintha Madura)