Uproar in Parliament demanding LG elections

• Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa was a notable absentee
• SJB MPs Eran Wickramartne, Rauff Hakeem, A. H. M Fowzie, Renuka  Kavirathne refrained from participating in the protest though they were  inside the chamber

Parliament sessions lasted for less than one hour yesterday as the regulations under the Tea Board Law, Companies Act was approved amidst protests by the opposition which demanded that the local government elections be held as scheduled. 

The House went into an uproar as some 22 members of SJB, group led by MP Wimal Weerawansa and SLFP stormed into the well with placards shouting. “ Diyau Diyau Chande Diyau (give us an election) the MPs shouted as they stormed into the well.   

The members were calling for the local polls with SJB MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara stating that a resolution has to be passed in the House to reduce the allocation made to the Department of Elections under the budget while MP Wimal Weerawansa said the President could even postpone Presidential elections citing financial crisis.  
“Funds have already been allocated for the local government elections by the budget 2023, therefore a fresh resolution has to be approved by the House to reduce the allocation,” Madduma Bandara said.  

“President could even postpone the Presidential election citing the financial crisis. He cannot postpone the general elections without a referendum but he could always shut the House down. Therefore the local government election should be held on time as a postponement could create a bad precedent,” Weerawansa said.  

The protests got underway at that time with opposition MPs storming into the well. Minister of Plantations Ramesh Pathirana then presented the regulations and began his speech. Speaker Mahinda Yapa then inquired whether the House agrees with the new regulations and apparently adjourned the sessions till today.  Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa was a notable absentee while SJB MPs Eran Wickramartne, Rauff Hakeem, A. H. M Fowzie, Renuka Kavirathne refrained from participating in the protest though they were inside the chamber. 

• Funds have already been allocated for the local government elections by the budget 2023