GOVT FOUND ITS FAULT BY NOT LISTENING TO US: MARIKKAR

Government would not have got into trouble on its own if it listened to back benchers in parliament such as UNP MPS like us, S. M. Marikkar said yesterday. Mr. Marikar said this in response to a question raised by journalists at a media briefing last morning, on the judgement given by the Courts acquitting former minister and Member of Parliament Johnston Fernando from all charges.

“The judgement given to Mr. Fernando is not a set back for the government which fall into more serious trouble on its own,” the MP said whether this judgement was a set back for the government.

“Government would not get into

The government’s top brass never listened to the back benchers when they said there should be better public relations skills to make people aware of the good work the government is doing

there is no provisions in the Constitution to form a caretaker government as it could be done only when Parliament is dissolved

trouble on its own as it currently does, if it listens to people like us,” he added. Mr. Marikkar said the government’s top brass never listened to the back benchers when they said there should be better public relations skills to make people aware of the good work the government is doing.

Mr. Marikkar says no one speaks about the work the present government does including the elevated highway from Peliyagoda to Rajagiriya.

Also he said there is no provisions in the Constitution to form a caretaker government as it could be done only when Parliament is dissolved. He said forming a new government is also impossible as several Joint Opposition and SLFP members would not join such a government.

Referring to the Provincial Council election, he said UNP is for holding it under the proportional representative system. “It is the Joint Opposition and the SLFP which does not want the election held. We in the UNP will support if the Joint Opposition brings in a motion to hold the PC election under the proportional representative system till the shortcomings of new mixed system is rectified,” he said.