A heated situation arose in Parliament today pertaining to a statement that Parliamentarians are being supplied with fuel at a lower price at the Police Garage in Narahenpita.
Many Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Parliamentarians strongly criticized Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Buddhika Pathirana over the statement.
Speaking in Parliament today, MP Sampath Athukorala said an MP claimed Parliamentarians are being provided fuel at Rs.121 per litre at the Police Garage.
MP Athukorala said not only did the statement mislead the Parliament but the entire country.
He said the MP must apologies to the Parliament adding if not the reveal the details as to which MPs obtained fuel at reduced prices.
Responding, MP Buddhika Pathirana said there weren’t any concerns raised until yesterday pertaining to Parliamentarians obtaining fuel adding all MPs obtained fuel through any means possible.
MP Pathirana said matters escalated when documents containing names of Parliamentarians were leaked and reported through media.
He said Minister Prasanna Ranatunga acknowledged that the procedure was put in place considering the security of Parliamentarians adding however the method of implementing the procedure was unsuitable.
The MP said there was no point in laying blame on him after wrong decision were reached. MP Pathirana refuted the claims when the Speaker of the House questioned whether he received direct reports identifying any Member of Parliament.
Joining the debate, MP Sisira Jayakody said MP Buddhika Pathirana must apologies to the House for making false and misleading claims.
He said the main slogan of yesterday’s protest organised by the Inter-University Students Federation at Fort, Colombo that the public is facing burdens due to Parliamentarians being provided with fuel at lower costs.
Meanwhile, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said the request to obtain fuel through the Police Garage was made considering the security of all MPs especially female Parliamentarians following the events of 9th of May.
Minister Ranatunga said a special request was directed to the subject Minister through the Speaker to for a temporary approval to obtain fuel for MPs.
