UNP to launch Continuous protest

The United National Party (UNP) is planning continuous protests against the electricity tariff hike, said Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga at a media briefing yesterday.

He said that his party would hold a special parliamentary group meeting today to decide on how to set about it.

He said the group meeting would be held at

Party would hold a special parliamentary group meeting today to decide on how to set about it

noon with the participation of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe; and that several important decisions pertaining to the power tariff hike would be taken up at the

meeting.

Referring to yesterday’s events in the House, he said Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa had adjourned the sittings unnecessarily. “We only came into the Well to urge the government give us a debate on the issue today, but all the Speaker did was adjourn sittings,” he said.

MP Joseph Michael Perera who also participated in the media briefing said his party would take up the power tariff hike issue today in Parliament as well.

MP Dayasiri Jayasekera accused Power and Energy Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi of making a false statement in the House. He said the power tariff hike was the result of ir- responsible management of the energy sector.

MP P Harrison said the Minister of Power and Energy could not escape by putting the blame on the former minister, Patali Champika Ranawaka. He said the government had avoided facing the adjournment motion on the kidney disease issue, which he was to move yesterday.

MP Sajith Premadasa said the increasing of the power tariff was a violation of the Constitution. He said articles 8 and 9 of the Constitution had been violated and that according to those articles the government could not take financial decisions which may be inimical to the people.