Block loopholes instead of blaming the Opposition – Chamara Sampath Dissanayake

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dissanayake urged ruling party MPs in Parliament today to identify and close the loopholes that certain individuals exploit to create difficulties for the government, rather than shifting blame onto the opposition.   

“There’s no point in blaming us for the ongoing protests by Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) employees and development officers,” Dissanayake said. “It was your government that altered the original plan to restructure the CEB into 12 companies. Instead, you turned it into just five, creating hardship for employees. So don’t hold us responsible for the current crisis.”   

He also referred to a controversial statement reportedly made by Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Ranjan Jayalal. “Jayalal has claimed that the NPP will stay in power even if it means killing 100,000 people. He must remember that his party can no longer rely on the violent tactics of 1989. Those days are long gone.”   

Dissanayake went on to level serious allegations against Jayalal, claiming that during his time as trade union leader of the CEB, he solicited payments ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 from employees, allegedly in exchange for promises of securing them permanent positions.   

In a separate claim, the MP also alleged that a V8 vehicle he had used during his tenure as Chairman of a Pradeshiya Sabha is now being used by the current chairman of the BCC, a state-run soap manufacturing company.