SJB to boycott P’ment opening

• They have also decided to boycott the two day debate on the President’s policy statement 

By Yohan Perera   

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is expected to boycott the ceremonial opening of Parliament on Wednesday February 8.   

Deputy Chief Opposition Whip Nalin Bandara Jayamaha told Daily Mirror that MPs of his party will boycott the opening and the presentation of policy statement by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday.   

“We have also decided to boycott the two day debate on the President’s policy statement which is to be held on Thursday and Friday. SJB decided to boycott these events as we are merely spectators in these exercises,” he said.    MP Eran Wickramaratne also said there was a discussion to this effect and the final decision will be circulated to all party members shortly.    Meanwhile the accusation made by the opposition including the SJB that a resolution seeking the stoppage of allocating funds for the local government election was dismissed by State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya. “We are only concerned about the economic crisis and not the local government election. The finance minister issues circulars pertaining to state expenditure on long term basis and no directives are issued targetting elections,” he said.