Chief Opposition Whip, a fillip to play major role - JVP Leader
by Ranil Wijayapala
The appointment of the of Chief Opposition Whip is a good opportunity
for the JVP to represent the national interests in Parliament, JVP
Leader and Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayaka said.
He said though the JVP expected to be the main Opposition, it missed
the opportunity as it could not muster an adequate number of seats in
the Parliament but will consider the appointment as Chief Opposition
Whip an opportunity to play a major role in Parliament.
"Though the Tamil National Alliance obtained less votes than us, it
secured more seats in Parliament and became the main Opposition", he
said.
He said the TNA has always acted in the interest of one community,
but Parliament represents the interests of all communities . "Therefore,
the JVP will fulfill this task on behalf of all communities through this
appointment", the JVP leader said.
He said the JVP had worked with the TNA in the opposition. "We had
diverse opinion on various issues and had agreements as well as
disagreements over certain issues.
That is the nature of the political parties in Parliament. Therefore,
we will not face any difficulties when working r with the TNA in the
Opposition ", Dissanayaka added.
Asked whether the appointment of TNA Leader R. Sampanthan as the
Opposition Leader was meant to dilute the pressures from the Opposition,
the JVP Leader said that TNA as the main party representing the
Opposition deserve the Opposition Leader's position in Parliament.
"The role of the Opposition is not reflected by the number of heads
in Parliament but by the representing public interests. Although the
former opposition had larger number of heads in Parliament they did not
play that role properly. Though we have only few head in Parliament we
are confident that we can play a better role in representing all
segments of society", the JVP leader said.
Asked whether he would face difficulties when working with the
political parties representing the UPFA including former President
Mahinda Rajapaksa, Dissanayaka said when representing people's interests
the parties with whom we work is not an issue.
"When representing the public interest there is no question about the
arties we work with", Dissanayaka added. |
