Will reconsider supporting extension: Opposition

The Opposition said today it would have to reconsider supporting extension of the emergency regulations the next time it comes up for voting because emergency regulations were being misused to curtail the rights of workers and to suppress anti-government protests.

Opposition MP Kanchana Wijesekera told a news briefing at the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) office that emergency regulations were extended for the third time but the government members did not show any interest in attending parliament during the voting.

“The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is against the extension but we supported it for the sake of national security. However, it seems the government is misusing emergency regulations to curtail the rights of workers and to suppress anti-government protests. Therefore, we will have to reconsider supporting the extension of the emergency regulations next time," he said.

Meanwhile, the MP asked why the security provided to the Dalada Perahera had been increased if the security situation in the country had returned to normal.

“It is the military which can ensure national security. That's why we supported the extension of emergency regulations,” he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)