By Walter Jayawardhana

Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said the United National Party members continue to insult the country’s valiant armed services and issue statements underestimating their achievements.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Yapa charged that UNP senior parliamentarian Laxman Kiriella who was in a big controversy some years back after stating , “Any fool could go to war,” referring to our armed services. (Ona gonekuta uddha karanna puluwan)

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Yapa said after nearly two years , keeping silent about alleged statement, now Kiriella says he has been misquoted. (The ITN played a video clip of him making the statement).

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Yapa said now he has made another statement underestimating the great achievement of our valiant soldiers. According to Yapa , Kiriella had said in the Lakbima newspaper that any one can win a war after spending so much of money.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Calling this another demoralizing insult by Kiriella against the army Yapa said it was not the money or armaments that win wars but the soldiers behind the guns. That’s why , he said, the rich US army cannot win the Afghanistan war and the Vietnam war in the past.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In an obvious reference to Kiriella the Commander of the Army during an interview said he hated the army because a close relative was discharged from the army.