The Joint Opposition (JO) will call upon the Speaker for a full day debate at the next parliamentary sittings beginning on Tuesday (May 7) to discuss the prevailing situation in the country after the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks.
When Parliament convenes on Tuesday, the JO will urge the Speaker to give a full day debate to discuss the current situation. The JO maintains that the report of the Presidential Commission appointed to look into the Easter Sunday attacks should be debated in Parliament and the people too should be made aware of what is contained in this report, JO frontliner and UPFA Ratnapura District MP Ranjith de Zoysa told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
JO firebrand MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara told the Sunday Observer that when Parliament convenes we cannot discuss other minor issues when the country is facing a major terrorism issue. It is important to discuss what other incidents could occur and what further action needs to be taken based on the information available. Therefore, it is best to discuss this in Parliament at present.
MP Nanayakkara said Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and all party leaders of the Joint Opposition met President Maithripala Sirisena on May 2 on his invitation and discussed the serious situation in the country. The JO leaders also briefed the President on what transpired at the All Party Conference convened after the Easter Sunday attacks.
Following a request by the Opposition Leader, the former Commanders of the three Armed Forces and other retired Defence officials had been asked to express their views on the present situation in the country. They have made a number of recommendations and these recommendations have now been put in a draft document. The Opposition Leader has handed over this document to the President to decide as to what measures should be taken to contain the situation, he said.