TNA decries passage of Emergency despite its vehement protests

Shritharan

by Shamindra Ferdinando-June 28, 2019, 10:38 pm 

Jaffna District MP Sivagnanam Shritharan, yesterday, alleged that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had deprived him of an opportunity, on Thursday, (June 27) to ask for a division before Parliament approved Emergency Regulations for another month.

Parliament approved Emergency Regulations soon after Easter Sunday attacks to pave the way for the deployment of security forces in support of the police.MP Sivagnanam emphasised that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was strongly opposed to Emergency Regulations though its stand had not been taken into consideration. The TNA representative made the observation when he was asked whether the party had refrained from opposing the continuation of Emergency Regulations.

The TNA called for a division last month, having supported the re-introduction of emergency in April following Easter Sunday carnage.

A senior parliamentary official yesterday told The Island that proper procedures had been followed in extending emergency. Responding to MP Shritharan’s accusations, the official said that as the MP had never exercised his privilege to seek a division at the proper time Parliament couldn’t be faulted.

TNA parliamentary group leader and Jaffna District MP Mavai S. Senathirajah yesterday told The Island he had not been in parliament at the time the government proposed to extend the emergency. MP Senathirajah emphasised that the TNA was opposed to continuation of Emergency Regulations.

The TNA parliamentary group consists of 16, including two National List MPs. The TNA group comprises Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), PLOTE, TELO and EPRLF representatives.

Senathirajah said that he had been in Trincomalee at an event attended by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Two civil society activists, Gamini Viyangoda and Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu on behalf of Purawesi Balaya and the Center for Policy Alternatives, respectively, recently moved Supreme Court against the violation of human rights due to Emergency Regulations. Their petitions have been fixed for July 05 by the Supreme Court.

Joint Opposition lawmaker Shehan Semasinghe told The Island that they had a substantial number of members in parliament at that time ready to vote for Emergency Regulations though the TNA missed an opportunity to call for a division. Anuradhapura District MP Semasinghe said that Emergency Regulations were necessary to ensure national security.

The TNA’s call for a division last month revealed that there were only 30 lawmakers in parliament at the time of the voting. Of the 16 member TNA group, eight voted against Emergency Regulations. Twenty two (18 UNP and four UPFA) voted for whereas none of the JO members were present.

Most of the seats in the 225-member House were empty when the Emergency debate took place on Thursday. JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake censured President Sirisena and State Defence Minister Ruwan Wijewardene for not being in Parliament. Gampaha District MP Wijewardena walked into the chamber as Dissanayake was berating the government.