By Newswire Editorial

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has questioned why Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harsha de Silva did not deliver the Opposition’s opening response to the 2027 Budget, departing from what she described as a longstanding parliamentary practice.

Addressing Parliament today (13), the Prime Minister said that since entering Parliament in 2020, she had observed MP Harsha de Silva traditionally opening the Opposition’s debate following the presentation of the annual Budget.

“Usually, Opposition MP Harsha de Silva opens the Budget debate on behalf of the Opposition. This has been the practice since I entered Parliament in 2020. We generally prepare ourselves to respond to his remarks. Whether we are in the government or the Opposition, we have always been ready to listen to his opening statement following a Budget presentation. However, we see a change in that practice today,” she said.

The Prime Minister said the government welcomed the change but remained keen to hear MP Harsha de Silva’s views on the 2027 Budget.

She said his remarks would help determine whether there had been a shift in the SJB’s economic policies or whether the party continued to maintain its previous position.

Referring to the remarks made by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa at the beginning of the debate, the Prime Minister accused him of presenting misleading narratives concerning the economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

She said the government was now awaiting MP Harsha de Silva’s contribution to establish whether other SJB parliamentarians shared the Opposition Leader’s position on these economic matters. (Newswire)