Slow progress in parliamentary work Speaker responds to Prez: Kiriella

• The opposition is unable to nominate members for the 17 oversight committees in Parliament without the information requested by the opposition   

By Sandun A Jayasekera

In an apparent response to the claim that Parliament was slow in implementing proposals to bring about far-reaching systemic change made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana has said that it was not because of any shortcomings on the part of Parliament but the neglect of responsibility by the government, Chief Opposition Whip and SJB senior vice president, Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday.    

Kiriella while thanking Speaker Abeywardana for his remarks, reiterated that the government had continuously ignored opposition’s demand to submit the agreement reached with the IMF on conclusion of the staff level agreement in late August to obtain an Extended Fund Facility of US$ 2.9 billion in a four year duration.   

“The government is still to release the IMF agreement requested by the opposition,” he added.   

Where is the IMF agreement? Where is the blue print to restructure the State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) agreed with the world body? How many SOEs are listed to be sold in days to come by the government? Kiriella asked.   

“It is difficult for the SJB to participate in the budget 2023 debate without this information. Why the government is holding back the vital information that affects the national interests,” he questioned. .   

“The opposition is not in a position to nominate members for the 17 oversight committees in Parliament without the information requested by the opposition and contribute meaningfully to the budget debate. Parliament cannot go an inch forward under these circumstances,” Kiriella stressed.   

In a statement, the Presidential Media Division on 3rd of November said President Wickremesinghe in a letter to Speaker Abeywardana has said that although the formation of the National Assembly had been concluded, satisfactory progress had not been made with regard to other proposals.   

The establishment of a National Assembly and the appointment of 3 committees related to public finance and banking were proposed under far-reaching systematic changes, the statement said.   

It was also proposed to appoint Banking and Financial Services Committee, the Economic Stabilization Committee and a Committee on Ways and Means related to banking affairs. Five youth representatives were also to be selected for the Sectoral committees. A Parliamentary Budget Office was also proposed as well. Though 17 Parliamentary Sectoral committees should be established as indicated by these proposals, chairpersons have not been designated for them and the criteria for selecting the youth representatives to be appointed for this purpose has yet to be prepared, the president had lamented. 

• Why is the government holding back vital information that affects the national interests,”