14 June 2019 12:01 am
By Lahiru Pothmulla
The opposition yesterday criticised both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for leaving the country at the same time without appointing anyone to take charge of their ministerial duties.
Speaking at a news briefing, MP Keheliya Rambukwella said both leaders leaving the country at the same time cannot be approved when the country was going through a rough patch.
“Twenty-one million of citizens keep silent because they are helpless. They don’t have anyone to turn to. Therefore, they are compelled to bear everything on their own. After the Easter Sunday attacks, the two political powerhouses have taken 21 million of people hostage. The President boycotts the Cabinet meeting. Both leaders had not even appointed a minister to execute their duties in their absence. In the meantime, the Speaker will act on his own without caring about the issues in the country,” he said. He said the leaders of the country continue to blame each other without finding solutions to the issues but said the Opposition continues to fulfil its duties especially in the aftermath of the terror attacks.
“We requested for a debate on the attacks and then brought a no-confidence motion against Rishad Bathiudeen. However, a crisis has resulted because of the behaviour of the Speaker. Instead of resolving issues, the government appointed a parliament select committee in an unprecedented move,” he said.
Both leaders had not even appointed a minister to execute their duties in their absence