UPFA Government dishonest to NorthEast citizens, says UNP Parliamentarian

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 January 2005, 11:56 GMT]
Charging that the Sri Lanka Government has failed to send adequate relief supplies to people in NorthEast affected by the tsunami, Dr. Rajitha Seneratne, United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian told Sinhala media at the Opposition Leaders office Monday that "people living in LTTE-controlled areas are also our brothers and sisters and they too are citizens of this country, and so, we should share our responsibility to look after them. If we let them down at this critical period when they are facing a monumental tragedy, it will reinforce their conviction to part ways."

He charged that the UPFA government displayed a dishonest approach towards NorthEast people by blocking the visit of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, adding that the visit by Prime Minister to NorthEast with the hard-line JVP members has earned the wrath of the people of NorthEast.

Mr Seneratne reminded that foreign financial aid that goes into the President's Fund is not subjected to auditing and full transparency in the utilization of funds cannot be assured. Further compounding the issue is all officials appointed to handle tsunami relief and reconstruction work are confidantes of the President.

He said that the reconstruction plan drawn by the bureaucracy includes many projects in areas not affected by the tsunami.