Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe speaking to Parliament today (10) called on TNA MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam to withdraw his statement on May 20, calling it to be agaisnt the Parliament tradition.
This was during the special statement the Prime Minister made on extending condolences to the demise of MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala.
The Prime Minister accused MP Rasamanickam’s comments to be ‘justifying’ the unrest occurred on May 09 and urged the TNA MP to apologise on his actions and withdraw the statement by the end of this Parliamentary week. He added that he will request the Speaker to examine it and submit a report to the relevant committee, should Rasamanickam fail to withdraw.
Wickremesinghe also read the TNA MP’s comments on May 20, stating that it would be problematic as to why a member of Parliament makes such a comment.
“Houses were set on fire because things that were unfavourable to the country such as the 20th Amendment was voted in favour. That is, houses were set on fire because there was an objection. Both 2020 and 2021 budgets had wrong economic policies. The houses were set on fire because they raised their hands to both the 20 and 21 budget. MP Kumara Welgama’s house was untouched. Remember that what happened to them was due to the betrayal of the people and the betrayal of the mandate.”
Wickremesinghe added: “I remember when Mr. Lakshman Kadiragamar was assassinated we all stood up and criticised it. We condemned it. There were people outside who criticised him. That is, the LTTE had criticised him. And today, the same is being done inside.”
MIAP