Ranil’s foreign tours are aimed at benefiting country -UNP

(May 11, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) UNP M.P. Lakshman Kiriella addressing a media briefing at the UNP media unit today (11 May) stated that the Opposition leader’s foreign tours are purposeful unlike the junkets of the Ministers undertaken at state expense only to return without any benefit to the country . The Government accuses the Opposition leader as touring foreign countries to tarnish the Govt.’s image when the Govt. itself must take the responsibility for this.

Due to Govt.’s incompetence, what problems which can be solved internally is muddled up and made complicated whereby foreign powers are unnecessarily drawn into the local issues. The war is now made a pickle by the Govt. by not treating the IDPs and the Tamil civilians suffering in the trapped zones as citizens of this country. Its unconcern for them and incapacity to attend to their woes have aggravated the war situation , he added.

Opposition Leader has always acted in the larger interests of the country and the people on his tours though he might not have carried a begging bowl like the Govt. which goes round the entire globe begging for loans, finally to be rejected. .
During the UNP period in office , countries offered loans on a platter because they had implicit faith in the Govt. The UNP honored its promises and undertakings internally and internationally. O n the contrary , this Govt.’s backstreet politics and wavering policies have eroded the trust the International community earlier had .

Internally and Internationally , the Govt. is so guilty of its own actions that its only objective now is to conceal rather than reveal the factual position in all areas of its activities. Otherwise , why should the Govt. slink from facing the debate the UN is calling for ,and disallow the impartial media and agencies to visit the war zones? he asked.

It is very unfortunate some parties who are allies of the Govt. have forgotten the Buddha dharma too only to achieve their selfish ends and personal advancement . They shout hoarse against cattle slaughter , but to them human slaughter is permissible, going by their attitude in the present context.

-Sri Lanka Guardian