Crisis between President and PM results in economic crisis

Colombo (News 1st): Speaking at the parliamentary debate today (June 27) Deputy Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Nalin Bandara Jayamaha noted that following the 04/21 incident, 2389 people have been arrested, of which 236 suspects are currently in remand custody, 189 individuals are under detention orders, 3 of them were arrested under the emergency law and 186 were arrested under the prevention of terrorism act.  He noted that they have created a suitable environment, where legal action can be initiated against 263 individuals of the 425. UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardene responding noted that at present even the government is in a crisis and the prime minister and president are conflicting in terms of decisions and opinions, and cannot work together. He added that the president himself said that he cannot work with the prime minister. He went onto note that the constitutional crisis between the president and the prime minister has now resulted in an economic crisis. He believes that it is non-democratic to allow the governors of 8 provinces to use the second largest budget allocation, without holding provincial council elections. Leader of the House Minister Lakshman Kiriella said one half of the Provincial Councils Act has been approved, while the remaining half is pending approval. He noted that the previous method is now abolished and the UNP was always of the stance that we should proceed with the previous method. He added that it is they who demanded the new method, however, when the method was presented in parliament, only one half was approved. He noted that they disagreed to the divisional method. Adding to this UNP MP Mujibur Rahman said so far, they have arrested every suspect linked to terrorism and the country has returned to normalcy. He noted that they have requested foreign nationals to visit Sri Lanka. However, he said foreign countries say that Sri Lanka is still not safe due to tense situations. He added that there is a group who promotes hate speech and racism, however, the emergency law is not enforced against such individuals and that is the issue.