Why wasn't the chief opposition whip present in parliament?: Sujeewa

8 December 2011 05:27 pm - 25 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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UNP Colombo District parliamentarian Sujeewa Senasinghe speaking to Daily Mirror online stated that the lack of UNP MPs today to speak in parliament was due to a clear lack of organisation and handing of responsibilities within the party.

Parliament was adjourned prior to its scheduled time due to the lack of speakers from the opposition with only sixty minutes out of the 165 minutes allocated to the opposition being used. The UNP had only two speakers in the form of Senasinghe and Dayasiri Jayasekara today. "Even the chief opposition whip of the party wasn't present today. I had prepared for my speech and there were a lot of facts that I couldn't put through due to the lack of time. I was told to take my seat midway during my speech and it was an important debate regarding the ministry of petroleum. I was very disappointed when I realised that there was no one else to speak apart from Mr. Jayasekara, and there was so much time that couldn't be made use of" he said.

Senasinghe went on to point out that if the Chief Opposition whip was present he could have allocated more time on behalf of those who were not present to Senasinghe."If the organiser was present in parliament, the time that wasn't used could have been allocated to the two of us, but much to my dismay even he wasn't in the house together with the listed speakers," Senasinghe said.

Speaking on the leadership tussle that is brewing within the party Senasinghe said that the majority of the country is looking forward to a change . "What the party needs is a change, in both attitude and conduct. The Sinhala voter base has kept dwindling and now its time for the party to undergo the change that this country deserves," he said. Speaking on the statement made by Chief Opposition whip John Amarathunge who stated that Karu Jayasuriya isn't suitable to lead the party at a press conference today, Senasinghe said "I respect Mr. Amarathunge as a part senior, but everyone knows he isn't leadership material, its wrong for him to say that Karu Jayasuriya isn't fit to lead the party. He seems to be the person who can unite all factions and move the party and the country forward," he said. (Hafeel Farisz)

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Comments - 25

prem Friday, 09 December 2011 07:32 AM

Karu has to wait for his turn

Labby Saturday, 10 December 2011 06:56 AM

O for gawdsake sujeewa, stop winching will you? We are all sick of you guys' eternal grumbling.

Aliya Saturday, 10 December 2011 06:15 AM

This UNP(opposition) is a big problem to our country.... wish we didn't have a bloody democracy.

Stupid Graduate Saturday, 10 December 2011 03:24 AM

Great speaker, but not the best lawyer. Represents kaduwela but is from (and lives) in Kandy

Thomas Saturday, 10 December 2011 01:30 AM

That is NOT your problem

ampare son Friday, 09 December 2011 03:25 PM

opposition whip post go to john bass

Nagaragiri Kiththil Friday, 09 December 2011 03:16 PM

He lost his whip, I think he sold it to a jockey to whip the horses.

gune Friday, 09 December 2011 03:05 PM

karu will correct all those matters in one fine day ????

Suresh Friday, 09 December 2011 02:50 PM

This brat is a brilliant lawyer, and elequent speaker from Kaduwela.

Stupid Graduate Friday, 09 December 2011 02:48 PM

The chief whip, and most of the seniors were busy making statements during the last twenty years while you were day dreaming about politics. don't be so opportunistic about leadership. try learn from ruwan

Chandana Friday, 09 December 2011 02:47 PM

Good job Sujeewa. Keep it up!

cassim Friday, 09 December 2011 12:13 PM

Karu has double standards, left the party with 17 and returned alone for his advantage

Dee Friday, 09 December 2011 10:43 AM

Are you aiming for party leadership as well??

hamid Thursday, 08 December 2011 06:30 PM

it is beter if all the unp mps do not attend parliment and waste the time and tax payeres money.

prem Friday, 09 December 2011 07:22 AM

are you not a Unp er?

jJacoob Friday, 09 December 2011 07:08 AM

simple sir.. would have gone to get blessing from triple gem !! we are with you sir...

Cow Friday, 09 December 2011 07:10 AM

So Ranil is a good leader? Maybe yes if we change the definition of "good leader".

Cow Friday, 09 December 2011 07:04 AM

Do not agree. He hasn't done anything good to the party. Only thing that he has done is ruining the party.

Anil Friday, 09 December 2011 07:01 AM

Who is this brat ?

ramesh Friday, 09 December 2011 06:35 AM

So you too are part of the force dividing the party.Or else you should not have spoken about internal problems in public. You used this opportunity to hit at RW and at the same time speak about disunity in the party. The whole problem is all you guys are playing for your personal agendas. Also there is a big difference between a good leader and a good person.Karu is a good person.

izmy Friday, 09 December 2011 05:30 AM

You are in the reformist group waiting to find faults in the party which has not any value.Anyone with common sense knows the govt wants Ranil out of poltics and whom they are using.Karu came back for this and u all have fallen to his trap.

Joe Perera Friday, 09 December 2011 12:10 AM

You have done a great job for the party, Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, now its time for you to give the opportunity for others to lead the team.

Manoj Boteju Thursday, 08 December 2011 10:25 PM

We will have a proper opposition when Sujeewa takes over the reigns.

Ram Perera Thursday, 08 December 2011 09:50 PM

How can karu unite the party when be broke the party for personal gain few years back. That crack continued in later years and is unrepairable. Karu can be considered if he can get at least a few of the breakaway group to return.

Hareesz Thursday, 08 December 2011 06:32 PM

Do we have a proper Opposition, let alone the Chief Whip?

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Why wasn't the chief opposition whip present in parliament?: Sujeewa

Comments - 25

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