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Declare a state of national emergency: Sajith
UNP Deputy leader Sajith Premadasa called on the government to declare a state of national emergency, in view of the catastrophic situation faced by many citizens resulting from the floods that had affected 10 districts across the country.
“There are over 30,000 families and over a 100,000 civilians who have been affected by the floods. Of course neither the government nor the opposition could fight against nature, but it’s the norm for any government to provide relief to citizens affected by such natural disasters. This government has even failed to provide clean water or meals to those affected despite media statements to the contrary” Premadasa said.
The Hambantota District parliamentarian went on to state that his examples of a crippled relief effort stem from affected areas around the Hambantota district.
“ Even the citizens affected from Hambantota are yet to receive any sort of relief from the relevant authorities. The basic requirement when this sort of catastrophe is to provide those suffering, with clean water and food to subsist. But even in providing this the government had failed miserably” he said.
Premadasa urged the government to prioritise the needs of the people in light of the extra expedient process used to prepare the report of the PSC for the impeachment of the Chief Justice.
“ I don’t understand the logic behind the extra expedient process that was used to prepare the report and on the other hand a complete negligence of the poor and affected people of this country who are continuing to suffer at the hands of the government” he said.
Speaking further Premadasa asked the rationale behind the breaking of set codes and norms in order to accommodate the Colombo night races at a cost of Rs. 2000 lakhs for the benefit of the rich and elite, while continuing to hamper the process to provide relief to the many who have been displaced as a result of the floods.
“ The Lamborghini class was treated to a fiesta with the exemption of taxes and the over- reaching of set circulars and other processes in order to provide a meaningless entertainment exercise to them. This was done at the expense of tax rupees for this country and causing severe distress to the general public. Why could not the government show the same priority when it came to providing relief for the poor classes of the citizenry?” he asked.
Premadasa went on to reiterate the need for a declaration of a state of national emergency in order to galvanize all resources for the relief effort. (Hafeel Farisz)
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