December 15, Colombo (LNW): The opposition will propose a new candidate for the position of Speaker in Parliament during the upcoming session on Tuesday (17), Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Nalin Bandara said.
Speaking at a press briefing in Colombo today, MP Bandara expressed his concerns over the current state of governance and recent developments within the Parliament.
He emphasised the need for a Speaker who truly represents the opposition, rather than one with dubious credentials.
“We intend to present a candidate who is genuinely aligned with the opposition’s values and interests, someone who can uphold the principles of democracy and fairness,” Bandara stated.
Although no specific names have been proposed yet, he confirmed that a meeting would be held tomorrow to finalise the nomination.
Bandara also took the opportunity to sharply criticise the government, accusing it of misleading the nation and mishandling key issues.
“The government promised to clean up Parliament, but instead, they’ve compromised the integrity of our educational qualifications and the overall governance of the country,” he said.
He pointed to the rise of individuals with questionable qualifications occupying prominent positions, calling on the Bar Association of Sri Lanka to launch an investigation into the matter.
“We have seen specialists being reduced to ordinary doctors, and we have already filed complaints with the Medical Council regarding this issue,” he added.
Additionally, Bandara raised alarm over the plight of the farming community, particularly the ongoing issue of unpaid fertiliser subsidies, which he warned could lead to a rice shortage by 2025.
“The government’s failure to address these critical concerns will have serious consequences for the agricultural sector and the country’s food security,” he said.
He also accused Minister Namal Karunaratne of being complacent, adding that the minister had been “asleep” while these issues have spiralled out of control.
In a call for greater accountability, Bandara stated that merely resigning from the Speaker’s position was not enough.
“The current Speaker should not only step down from his position but also resign from his role as an MP to show genuine accountability,” he concluded.
