The opposition charges Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa of not informing Parliament about the present financial situation of the country.
Speaking in Parliament today, Parliamentarian Nalin Bandara Jayamaha said the Finance Minister attended Parliament last evening after they raised concerns adding however attendance will not matter if the Minister fails to make a statement in the Chamber.
MP Jayamaha urged Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana to call on Minister Rajapaksa to make a statement pertaining to the fuel crisis as Lanka IOC prices have increased drastically.
Joining the debate, Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said not only opposition MPs but members of the government would also like to be made aware of the current situation.
MP Dissanayaka said the main responsibility of the Finance Minister is to table facts on the current situation adding they do not merely want to see the Minister in attendance.
He said if Minister Rajapaksa has any sense of responsibility, he needs to make a statement before Parliament instead of disregarding duties due to his family members being high-ranking government members.
MP Dissanayaka said the Speaker is also answerable to his electorate when the public raises concerns over the country’s situation.
The Parliamentarian requested the Speaker to issue an order to the Minister of Finance to issue a clear statement on the financial situation.
Speaker Abeywardana responded claiming he has no authority to issue orders to Ministers.
Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena claimed the government is not attempting to avoid a debate on the matter adding the country’s financial situation keeps changing daily.
Furthermore, MP Chaminda Wijesiri said Minister Rajapaksa attended Parliament during the final 10 minutes of a five-hour session.
MP Wijesiri said he recalled event of the morning and raised many questions related to the subject matter adding however the Finance Minister failed to even attempt to provide a response.
The Parliamentarian charged there is a major economic conspiracy at play.
