Emergency extended for another month in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 April 2011, 05:08 GMT]
Sri Lanka parliament Thursday evening adopted the motion by the government to extend the state of emergency for another month with a majority of 81 votes. 98 parliamentarians from the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and its constituents voted for the motion, parliamentary sources said.

Seventeen parliamentarians of the main opposition United National Party (UNP), Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) voted against the motion.

Soon after the debate on the emergency extension motion moved by Sri Lanka's Prime Minister D.M.Jayaratne was concluded, Mr.R.Sampanthan, parliamentary group leader of the TNA called for a division on the motion.

Jaffna district TNA parliamentarian Mr. Suresh Premachchandran speaking on the motion said one hundred percent military interference is seen in every activity in Jaffna district. He pointed out that Sri Lanka Army has been attending in every public function in Jaffna whereas the SLA does not participate in civil functions in the south of Sri Lanka.

The State of Emergency is being extended every month in Sri Lanka with the approval of the parliament since August 2005.