Frontline Socialist Party Propaganda Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda said on Monday (23) that Sri Lanka had a national government even before March 22. What happened on that day was the lifting of the veil behind which all involved parties hid behind until now, he added.

Addressing a media briefing, Jayagoda said the fact that a national government was effectively in existence is evident by the voting patterns seen in the parliament in the recent weeks. The interim budget, the ‘drug policy bill’ and some other bills received almost unanimous approval in the parliament. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna refused to commit and only Ajith Kumara, who sits as an independent MP opposed these bills, Jayagoda added.

The main two political parties have been involved in continuing the same capitalist policy, especially after the introduction of neo-liberal capitalism after 1977. The role of the opposition party is that of preventing serious ideological criticism from arising against the government, Jayagoda said. Their debates are mainly focused on personalities rather than principles, he added.