Anura names representative for public debate; Kanchana refuses

13 December 2023 05:12 pm Views - 2385

BY AJITH SIRIWARDANA AND YOHAN PERERA

Parliament, Dec. 13 (Daily Mirror)- While refusing to participate in a public debate with JVP member Wasantha Samarasinghe as proposed by NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara made a fresh call to Dissanayake to present himself for the debate.

The Minister told Parliament that if MP Dissanayake was sending Wasantha Samarasinghe as his representative, he would also send someone to represent him.

"Anura Kumara said his party accepted my challenge for a public debate. He has said he will send Wasantha Samarasinghe as his representative. If he is sending his representative, I will also send my representative. Wasantha Samarasinghe is not even an MP. If he can rather send Ranjan Jayalal, then I also can send a trade union leader for the debate," he said. 

Minister Wijesekara said he challenged Anura Kumara for a public debate on what he had said in Parliament and that he was prepared to debate with Dissanayake himself.

MP Dissanayake, who accepted the challenge of Minister Kanchana Wijesekara earlier in the day, said that his party was ready to face the challenge and said he would send Wasantha Samarasinghe to debate on the CEB, fuel and coal purchases and solar deals.