Sri Lankan politicians disgruntled with Nasheed's COP representation
Responding to the criticism, Nasheed's supporters said that environmental issues are related to humanity as a whole.
By
Shahudha Mohamed
Sri Lanka's lawmakers have also criticised and questioned the move by Maldivian parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed to represent the island nation with the Sri Lankan delegation to COP27, a major environmental summit being held in Egypt's Sharm-El-Sheikh.
Nasheed's visit to represent Sri Lanka was criticised by members of Sri Lanka's opposition party MPs at Tuesday's parliament meeting.
Sri Lanka's main opposition party, Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) MP Nalin Bandara, said:
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He wondered if Sri Lanka did not have anyone capable to represent the country
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He said Sri Lanka has "lost face" with the world by having taken Nasheed to represent their country
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He questioned why Nasheed was taken to COP27 at the expense of the Sri Lankan government, which was in an economic abyss
Responding to this, House of Parliament Minister Sushil Premajyanta gave a detailed account of COP27 and said it was an important meeting. He said there was "nothing wrong" with Nasheed accompanying the Sri Lankan delegation and it was not clear why the opposition was questioning it.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the opposition socialist party National People's Power (NPP), also demanded that the Sri Lankan government disclose the details of the expenditure incurred by the government in taking Nasheed to the COP summit. He criticised Nasheed for accompanying Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to the COP27 at a time when the island nation is facing a lot of hardships.
Maldives is not spending for Nasheed's visit. Parliament's Communications Director Hassan Ziau said the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), a group of countries most affected by climate change, was overseeing all the expenses of Nasheed's visit.
Nasheed's participation as a representative of Sri Lanka's national delegation to COP27 has been criticised by some high-ranking officials in the Maldives government as well.
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and former Attorney Generals Dr Mohammad Munawwar and Diyana Sayeed questioned the Speaker representing another country. MPs and former assistant commissioner of police Abdullah Fairoosh spoke in favour of the criticism.
According to the Constitution:
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Lawmakers at parliament should act in the national interest and welfare of the people first
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No member should use his position to promote the caste or personal interests of any other person who is related to him or her
Responding to the criticism, Nasheed's supporters said that environmental issues are related to humanity as a whole and it is not a problem for Nasheed to represent and advocate for another country in such a humanitarian matter. Those who expressed such views said the Maldives and Sri Lanka share the same policy on climate issues.
Others said that not only Nasheed, but others holding political positions in different countries represent and advocate for other countries on different platforms for the cause of combating climate change. Some are also saying that it is not anything new in universal climates.
