Mr. Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the opposition, said that the terms agreed with the international monetary fund should be disclosed to the parliament, and that the message emitted by the anti-popular government by postponing the elections is serious.
The opposition leader also said that the quality of the tear gas used in the recent attacks on the protests and their contents should be disclosed to the country immediately.
The leader of the opposition said this while referring a question under 27/2.
Due to the current situation in the country, i expect specific answers and explanations from the government considering the following issues as issues of national importance.
- What is the date of implementation of the agreement signed by the Government of Sri Lanka with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?
2. According to the agreement, which government agencies and government-owned companies are being restructured?
3. What are the other conditions mentioned in the agreement? Can that agreement be presented to this honorable assembly this week?
4. Since there is no referendum, how can the government, which postpones the elections, get the people’s blessing for the agreements and decisions to be made with the International Monetary Fund and other parties?
5. How can a country that does not hold elections on time be called a democratic country?
6. Is the government not going to hold any elections this year?
7. if not, what are the reasons why the Ministry of Finance did not release the necessary financial allocations to the Election Commission for the local government elections that were scheduled for the second time?
8. What is the amount requested by the Election Commission for the printing of ballot papers by the printer?
9. How much money has been given to the government press? How much more money should be given to the press? When should the amount be given?
10. With the implementation of the new Income Tax Act, how much revenue has the government received from it in the last 2 months?
11. What are the amendments proposed by the professionals in the new tax law in the past? Does the government agree to make those amendments?
12. If the government is expected to amend the new Income Tax Act, will it be explained in what manner?
13. What is the report called for by the Honorable Minister of Education regarding the recent incident of the police entering the Colombo University premises and assaulting the students and what is the progress of the measures taken accordingly?
14. Who are the people carrying sticks who were wearing uniforms similar to those used by forces unknown to the army commander or the inspector general who attacked Colombo university students?
15. Who gave orders to that unknown group? What is the progress of the investigations made in this regard?
16. Several people lost their lives due to the tear gas used by the government to disperse protests in the past. Is it due to chemical poisoning? Or using expired tear gas?
17. on 9th May 2022 near Temple trees,
On 13th July 2022, near the Prime Minister’s Office,
On 26th February 2023 near Lipton Roundabout and,
On 07 March 2023 near Colombo University
What are the production years and expiry dates of (CS Shells) and (CS Grenades) used to disperse the protests?
18. Has a formal laboratory test been done to ensure the quality of the tear gas bullets and tear gas bombs used in the protests? Can the inspection report be presented to this assembly? If not why?
19. Has the cabinet approved the purchase of 15,000 more tear gas rounds and tear gas bombs? What is the estimated amount for that?
