Opposition parties boycott Parliament, sessions curtailed due to fuel crisis

MPs from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the National People's Power (NPP) today (21) walked out of Parliament saying they would boycott this week's sessions. 

Both Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said there was no point in convening Parliament when the Government was not taking any action to resolve the pressing issues faced by the people. 

"This Government has brought ridicule on this Parliament," Mr Premadasa said. He questioned what the point of convening Parliament was when the Government was not prepared to discuss and resolve the pressing issues faced by the people. 

Mr Premadasa said the SJB was not prepared to go along with the charade being carried out by the Government and said they would be boycotting this week's sessions in protest. 

The Government needs to present a roadmap explaining how it intends to take the country out of the present crisis, NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament. "The Government needs to stop playing political games and present such a roadmap. There is no point in discussing anything unless the Government presents such a list of proposals and discusses it in this House. Mr Dissanayake said Opposition parties will give the Government a week to present such a roadmap to Parliament. 

Meanwhile, the Committee on Parliamentary Business which met today under Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena decided to curtail this week's Parliament sessions to two days due to the prevailing fuel crisis. 

Accordingly, Parliament will convene only today (21) and tomorrow (22). 

Parliament was originally scheduled to sit for four days this week from June 21 to 24. However, due to the difficulties presented by the fuel crisis, party leaders today decided to curtail this week's sessions to just two days.