Showdown on power tariff reduction We don’t rise in Parliament as and when we want, like a bull – Kanchana tells Sajith

• The Minister avoided the questions I raised on the recent power failure
• Minister accused Sajith of not allowing SJB MPs to attend meeting with him

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa and Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera discussed yesterday in Parliament the electricity tariff reduction.

The drama flared up when Minister Wijesekera accused MP Premadasa of not allowing Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs to come for a meeting with him on reducing electricity tariffs.  
“I sent a letter to the Opposition Leader to send five of his MPs for a meeting I arranged to discuss the reduction of power tariffs from next year. However, I received a letter from the Opposition Leader’s office saying the meeting should be held in the parliamentary complex. There was no time to arrange a meeting at the Parliamentary complex by the time I received the reply from the Opposition Leader. Some MPs like Ajith Mannaperuma were willing to come to the meeting if they were allowed to,” Minister Wijesekera said.  

“Arrange a meeting at the parliamentary complex if the Minister is able to figure out how many people were expected to participate in the meeting. The Minister avoided holding the meeting in another location deliberately to prevent the Opposition MPs from participating in the meeting. Also, the Minister had avoided the questions I raised on the recent power failure,” Premadasa said.   

“I have informed the Secretary General’s office that I need time to answer the questions raised by Mr. Premadasa but I have not obtained time yet,” replied Minister Wijesekera.   
Opposition Leader: “You can answer my question at any time. It is as simple as that.”
Minister Wijesekera: We don’t rise in Parliament as and when we want, like a bull.