CHANDRIKA KUMARATUNGA AND
RANIL WICKRAMASINGHE ARE TRYING TO STOP FOREIGN AID TO SRI LANKA TO
SPITE HIM SAYS PRESIDENT
By Rangajeeva Rajakaruna
In an obvious reference to former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and
United National Party leader Ranil Wickramasinghe President Mahinda
Rajapaksa said they are conspiring to stop foreign aid to Sri Lanka
in a way injurious to the common masses of the country to spite him.
Addressing the 18th Annual Convention of the ruling Sri lanka Freedom
Party (SLFP) President Mahinda Rajapaksa accused not only the United
National Party leadership but some past leaders of his own party of
conspiring to stop foreign aid to the country to spite him in an obvious
reference to former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.
He said certain leaders have tried to stop the GSP plus concessions
granted by the European Union on purported charges of violation of human
rights in the country by secretly conspiring against the people.
Before the President leveled these accusations Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister
of Export Development and International Trade has admitted that the
government was in the know that former President Chandrika Kumaratunga
has had talks with some European Union leaders.
Addressing the SLFP sessions held at the Temple Trees grounds the President
said ,
“Not only the UNP leaders but even our own past leaders (Naikavo)
are trying to stop our foreign aid on the false charge that we are violating
human rights.”
During the times of the past UNP regimes the same ploy was adopted
by the pro-LTTE lobby in attempts to stop aid to Sri Lanka.
But Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga is still a member of the Sri Lanka Freedom
Party and participated in an important meeting of the party few days
ago.
But it is well known fact that she has been collaborating politically
with the United National Party leadership ever since she returned from
the United kingdom.
President Rajapaksa said when these leaders try to stop aid to the
country to spite him they must remember that it is the common masses
who become the victims of those attempts and would ultimately suffer.
President Rajapaksa said 27 political parties got together and asked
him to unite the country by emancipating the masses of the Eastern and
Northern Provinces from terrorism. That’s what his government has
been doing for the past two years.
Before President Rajapaksa made these comments, Professor G.L.Peiris
has explained matters to the European leaders on alleged violations
stated by Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga.
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