Minister of Mahaweli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development, Internal Trade, Food Security and Consumer Welfare Chamal Rajapaksa said the Opposition’s call to reconvene Parliament is a sinister move to embarrass the Government and create an unnecessary crisis situation in the country. Reconvening the old Parliament would not provide any solution to the prevailing situation but would lead to yet another confrontation as was witnessed in the recent past.
At his juncture, all should join hands with their political leaders and point out to the President, Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers if there are any shortcomings in the ongoing mechanism to contain the Covid-19 outbreak in the country. The Opposition can at least once a week discuss with the President or the Prime Minister the progress of the program and strategies adopted to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the Minister told the Sunday Observer.
Minister Rajapaksa who was also a former Speaker said reconvening Parliament is the President’s prerogative. The President can seek an interpretation from the Supreme Court if he desires. However, there is no past precedent that the President should seek the opinion of the Supreme Court in a situation like this. The Acts and other regulations pertaining to the health sector have clearly set out how we should deal in a pandemic situation of this nature.
Therefore, the President has no intention whatsoever to reconvene the old Parliament at this juncture.
He said “this is not the time to have unnecessary debates in Parliament and create a crisis situation in the country. We have to act in accordance with the Constitution. If the old Parliament is reconvened, it would definitely pave the way for unnecessary heated arguments which would eventually create pandemonium in the House. We have had many such past experiences.”
The Minister said there is no point in creating divergent views in society and dividing the people based on various political lines at this critical juncture. Even though Parliament has been dissolved, the Government, tri-forces and health authorities have taken all necessary measures to address the situation. Therefore, everybody irrespective of political differences should extend their support to the Government’s efforts to combat COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister Rajapaksa reiterated, there is no necessity to reconvene Parliament at this juncture. We witnessed the statements made by some Opposition politicians once they were granted bail, abusing parliamentary privileges. However, If the allegations were leveled against those outside Parliament, they would have no opportunity to respond to them. If Parliament is reconvened, what is the mechanism that can be adopted on the seating arrangements of 225 former parliamentarians while ensuring the healthcare of parliamentary staff and former Members of Parliament, he questioned.