PM Rajapaksa said: “It is without getting a budget approved in Parliament that we have allocated this large amount of money and given relief to the general public.”

Comment: A budget wasn’t approved because the government didn’t present a budget.

PM Rajapaksa said: “The President did not have the opportunity to get the assistance of Parliament to do any of these things.”

Comment: Parliament can’t assist when it stands dissolved, even though the Constitution empowers the President to recall it when faced with a crisis.

PM Rajapaksa said: “Parliament did not support us when we tried to get an interim budget approved before Parliament was dissolved.”

Comment: Parliament rightly said a Vote on Account shouldn’t be used to raise the debt ceiling. The proper way to do it is through a full budget.

PM Rajapaksa said: “The public who have the sovereignty ask us as to what use there is of re-summoning Parliament in such a situation.”

Comment: All three branches of the state exercise popular sovereignty. The executive solely represents the people only in dictatorships.