Sri Lankan parliament on Tuesday extended emergency for another month by a majority of 93 votes. A total of 105 votes were cast in favour of extension of emergency while 12 went against the motion. The main Opposition UNP abstained from voting while the JVP voted for the extension of emergency along with the government benchers. Only the TNA MPs voted against it.

Initiating the debate, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake said that the security forces were able to eradicate terrorist threat on the military bases in Anuradhapura, the Wilpattu Game Reserve and the North-Western costal belt after the liberation of Silavaturai.

He said that the defence authorities had information that the LTTE sending its cadres to Colombo even in the guise of priests to create havoc and anarchy, with the support of various underworld groups operating here.

UNP MP Lakshman Senevirartne criticized the government for politicizing the victories achieved by the security forces. Seneviratne further said they oppose the emergency regulations as it is being used to make money under the cover of war.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed