By Rohan Mathes

Cabinet spokesman Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday at a special press briefing in 'Temple Trees' claimed that President Chandrika Kumaratunga had amazingly prorogued Parliament and sacked three key Ministers at a critical moment of our history to sabotage the peace process and deprive the masses of this country the dividends of peace which were to be offered to them with the presentation of the Budget on November 12.

Prof. Peiris in the presence of his Cabinet colleagues, told the media that “it was the first time in the history of the country and the whole Commonwealth”, that the Finance Ministry has been deprived of presenting scheduled people-friendly Budget which contained much in the way of welfare facilities for the people.

Furthermore, at a time when the stalled peace-talks were to resume with the LTTE via the Norwegian peace brokers and the international community including the Indians, the EU and the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan had expressed their concern and satisfaction at the progress made.

Ironically, these events took place at a time the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was away in Washington for discussions with US President Bush and other US officials.

Peiris pointed out that Ranil Wickremesinghe had the majority in Parliament to form his Government and still has it as clearly shown in the March and May Provincial Council Elections in which the UNP polled almost 97 per cent of the votes. Therefore, as per the ideals of democracy, it is the UNF government which has the democratic and the moral right to rule the country.

“This is a total rejection of democracy. We strongly condone it”, Peiris noted.

Responding to questions of journalists Peiris said that they would resort to all possible forms of democratic action to reverse the situation.

He pointed out that the “Public Finance” is controlled by Parliament.

He further pointed out that ‘Emergency’ being declared now, the individual liberty of the people has been severely curtailed. “We will not endorse the ‘Emergency’ when it comesup in Parliament. Also they can prorogue Parliament for a maximum period of two months only”, he added.