By Jayashika Padmasiri
The United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party - Mahajana wing (SLFP-M) yesterday demanded Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara to step down, if he was incapable of doing justice to the five controversial Bills, which, according to the two parties, was passed ‘irregularly’ in parliament last week.

Addressing a news conference yesterday evening, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake and SLFP-M Coordinating Secretary Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi, warned severe action against the Speaker, if he failed to act against the five Bills.

“We are closely watching the moves the Speaker would make regarding this issue. The Speaker openly assured parliament that he would look into this matter on legal grounds. However, if he too arrives at an illegal decision, which will be anti national, anti public and a terrorist act, we will demand he step down as Speaker or, we, as the National Congress (UNP-SLFP,M combined) will take action against him, in whatever way possible,” Attanayake warned.

Sooriyaarachchi, addressing the media, said that he would like to know the position of former JVP parliamentarian Nandana Gunathilaka and former JHU parliamentarian Uduwe Dhammaloka, on the five finance Bills, as they were not present during parliament, on the day the Bills were passed.

The two parties also called on the public to switch off their mobile phones on September 17, for two hours, in protest against the Bills, which also imposed a new levy for all mobile phone users in the country.
“We ask the people of Sri Lanka to switch off their mobile phones on Monday (17) from 9 am to 11 am, to show their disapproval against the recently passed Bills,” Attanayake added.