President must decide whether Rajapaksas are worth more than Sri Lankans – Harshana

Sri Lanka could obtain greater international assistance if the government madea genuine effort to adhere to the norms of parliamentary democracy, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harshana Rajakaruna said.

“Instead, the government is trying to suppress people. It has issued a circular preventing state officials from expressing themselves on social media. The government also states that protestors need to get permission, six hours before a demonstration, but when they try to get permission protestors are arrested or police try to get a court order preventing the event,” he said.

The SJB MP added that a number of foreign countries and international organisations have opposed these moves. Sri Lanka is now begging almost all foreign nation for assistance, however, it also does its best to tarnish its reputation internationally, Rajakaruna said.

“The government is using the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to arrest protestors. PTA is condemned by almost all nations in the world. The President might get it but his main job is to protect the Rajapaksas and make Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs happy. The President wants to save this special relationship no matter what,” he said.

MP Rajakaruna said between 40 to 50 of Sri Lankan families are vulnerable to hunger. Around 15 percent of the children are underweight.

“The government is not addressing this issue. They are trying to silence the people who speak about the danger faced by our children. The President must decide whether the Rajapaksas are worth more than the people of Sri Lanka,” he said.