Former Deputy Leader of the United National Party, MP Ravi Karunanayake, has voiced strong objections to the government’s evasive responses to side questions raised by opposition MPs in Parliament.
Speaking in the House, Karunanayake questioned whether the government was introducing a “new culture” in parliamentary proceedings, where straightforward questions are met with delays or deflections.
He had specifically asked which government representatives had travelled to the United States to discuss the new tariffs imposed by the US and whom they were meeting. In response, the government stated that details would be provided during the relevant parliamentary debate.
Dissatisfied with this reply, MP Karunanayake challenged the need to wait until the debate to receive answers to basic side questions, arguing that such practices undermine transparency and accountability in Parliament.
