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Thursday Nov 21, 2024
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Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP S.M. Marikkar has accused President Ranil Wickremesinghe of now
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| SJB MP S.M. Marikkar
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appointing those who were directly responsible for the economic crisis as Government Ministers.
“At the time these state ministers are being sworn in our country is financially bankrupt. It is laughable that those responsible for it have now been sworn in as Ministers yet again,” he said.
He also noted that activists of the citizen’s struggle such as actress Damitha Abeyratne and Rev. Father Jeevantha Peiris along with others are being hunted down, the President has bestowed top government positions on those who directed and carried out the attack on GotaGoGama on 9 May.
Marikkar made these comments in parliament yesterday, after it was reported that 37 new state ministers had been sworn in before the President.
The SJB MP pointed out that the country’s financial woes began due to the large sums spent on numerous white elephant projects such as the Lotus tower by the Rajapaksa regime. “But its effects on the economy were delayed due to the policies of the good governance government,” he said, adding that Gotabaya Rajapaka, who was elected next, destroyed the country.
“He gave major tax breaks to his cronies and the Government lost its income. They printed money leading to high levels of inflation. He also destroyed the country’s agriculture with the ban on fertiliser. All those who were part of his government and contributed to these acts have now been appointed as Ministers by Ranil Wickremesinghe,” he pointed out.
“Sanath Nishantha who attacked the Aragalaya and Shashindra Rajapaksa who is responsible for the toxic fertiliser ship were sworn in as state ministers today. The person who carried out a chilli powder attack in parliament, the person who sought to promote cannabis and another who is suspected of carrying out the Arantalawa Bhikku massacre were also appointed as Ministers. Today is truly a remarkable day,” he said.
Marikkara also taking a pot shot at the Sri Lanka Freedom Party noted that while only 14 of its members are in parliament, six of them were sworn in as state ministers and two others are already functioning as cabinet ministers in the current Government. “Another is apparently binding his time till he is granted a cabinet post,” he said. “This would reduce the SLFP to merely five members. It appears that Ranil Wickremesinghe has reduced the SLFP to a sign board,” he added.
Marikkar said if the Government needs support, it needs only to ask the opposition. “I urge the Minister of Power and Energy to visit the Middle East and ask for a credit line in order to obtain fuel. But the truth is he is unable to do so as his party peddled racism. So ask us for help instead of appointing unsuitable persons as ministers,” he said.
