CHAOS IN PARLIAMENT OVER CPC STRIKE
A tense situation prevailed in Parliament yesterday when the opposition denounced several points raised by the Prime Minister on the strike launched by Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) workers.
He said the government had decided to declare fuel distribution as an essential service amid some unlawful acts taking place at the CPC premises such as attempts to puncture the tyres of some of the bowsers.
Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake who rejected the allegations made by the Prime Minister said it was the police who had created havoc by arresting several CPC employees when they were returning after a discussion with the President. “They have really been abducted,” he said.
Joint opposition parliamentary group leader Dinesh Gunawardene said it was dangerous to hand over the activities of fuel distribution to the army.“imagine what would have happened if some army officer makes a deadly error” he asked.
The MP claimed that a disaster had been averted on Tuesday night when an army officer had tried to operate some machinery almost making a mess of it. He said there was a move to declare the Colombo Port also as an essential service. Pandemonium broke out when the Speaker requested the Prime Minister to answer the questions asked by the opposition. Mr. Gunawardene and the joint opposition group protested saying they had more questions to ask.
Pandemonium continued even after the sessions resumed as Mr. Gunawardene and others insisted that incidents at CPC should stop forthwith. MP Wimal Weerawansa said CPC workers were being attacked by a gang of goons backed by an MP.
JVP MP Vijitha Herath urged the government not to make the CPC incident another Rathupaswala or a free trade zone drama. He therefore urged the government to release the arrested CPC workers. The Prime Minister said those who were arrested would be released after recording their statements.
Six Bills under the Special Commodity Levy and the Nation Building Tax Amendment Bill were rushed through amid the chaos.