By Saman Indrajith
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP S.M. Marikkar, on Thursday, told Parliament that a SJB government would take action against state officials who follow President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s illegal directives.
“Don’t do anything illegal. If you do, be ready to suffer the consequences,” he said.
The SLB MP said Wickremesinghe had money to waste on various tamashas, but he had no funds for elections.
“People are struggling for survival. Private companies are closing down. The government is not doing anything. It insists that the economy is recovering but the people continue to suffer. The President is afraid of the people,” he said.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that the President told Parliament that elections would be held in 2024.
“He has no right to say that. The constitution requires him to conduct elections. He is violating the law of the land. The Parliament has allocated money for the Local Council elections from the 2023 Budget. The President can’t say he has no money. The government printed billions of rupees last year,” he said.
Premadasa said that the government was also trying to change members of the Elections Commission.
“The government violates our rights and makes us suffer. When people wonder why their own government hates them, the ministers insist that this is what the IMF wants. So, essentially, we are doing anything and everything the IMF wants. We didn’t even present our own programme. The government is trying to scare dissidents. The SJB will take to the streets with the people to defend democracy.”