Sajith says people’s emergencies are a far cry from that of Govt.

• Alleges State emergency to unleash brutality and terrorism on the people
• People trying to live while facing real emergencies

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa says the real emergencies of the people are a far cry from that of the Government’s. “The people are always facing emergencies today as they have no fuel, gas

Leader of the Opposition  Sajith Premadasa

or milk powder for children. They are unable to buy a bag of cement, build a home or even secure a housing loan. The people are dying in fuel queues, and they are even unable to take a patient to a hospital.” he said listing out the many problems faced by the Sri Lankan people today. “They are facing many emergencies in their struggle to simply live. These are the true emergencies on the ground,” he noted.

However, Premadasa said the Government’s emergencies appear to be far different. “This debate is being held in a hurry because it appears the Government’s emergencies are to do with issuing threats and unleashing brutality as well as state terrorism on the people,” he said. Premadasa made these comments during the debate on the continuation of the emergency laws held yesterday. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by Premadasa voted against the continuity of the state of emergency declared by the President on 18 July.

Premadasa said there were only peaceful protests till the acts of violence against these protestors were perpetrated by former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on 9 May.  Premadasa called on Government MPs connected to the political group involved in the 9 May incidents to not mislead the Parliament by giving a different narrative on the acts of terrorism they were referring to.