TNA raises concerns over decision to declare emergency

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has raised concerns over President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s decision to enforce a State of Emergency in the country.

TNA Parliamentarian M.A Sumanthiran said that the move is an “unwarranted act” and could lead to a state of repression in the country.

Sumanthiran said that there needs to be a separate law for public health emergency.

He said that the Government has chosen to use the Public Security Ordinance instead of passing a Bill in Parliament.

“This spells great danger to the country” he said.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday enforced emergency regulations on five essential items.

The President?s Office said that under the powers vested in terms of the section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared emergency regulations formulated as per section 5 on essential food supply, with effect from midnight yesterday, by enforcing directives under section ii of the Ordinance.

The authorized officers will be able to take steps to provide essential food items at concessionary rate to the public by purchasing stocks of essential food items including paddy, rice and sugar, at government guaranteed prices or based on the Customs value on imported goods to prevent market irregularities which are causing inconvenience to consumers due to concealing of stocks of essential food items including paddy, rice and sugar and to prevent selling them at higher prices. This will be implemented in such a way that the loans granted to purchase stocks from the State Banks could be recovered from the borrowers.

Major General M. D. S. P. Niwunhella has been appointed as the Commissioner General of Essential Services to coordinate the supply of paddy, rice, sugar and other consumer goods that are essential to maintain the livelihood of the people.?(Colombo Gazette)

TNA raises concerns over decision by @GotabayaR to enforce emergency in the country. @MASumanthiran says this is an unwarranted act #SriLanka #lka #stateofemergency #foodemergency pic.twitter.com/fMCWzW1NfP

? Easwaran Rutnam (@easwaranrutnam) August 31, 2021