UNP queries Chandrika's sojourn in west

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 December 2000, 14:04 GMT]
Sri Lanka's main opposition, The United National Party (UNP) Thursday challenged President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge to reveal what she did during her long stay in Europe. "What is hilarious or incomprehensible rather is that the president is out of the country while the country is facing misfortune from all fronts", the party said in a press communiqué issued by its Assistant Leader of the UNP Mr.Gamini Atukorale.

The following is the text of the UNP's press communiqué:

"The PA administration has once again devalued the Rupee. The country has plunged to a dismal economic disaster despite ridiculous boastings of the government that Sri Lanka's economy is stronger than that of the United States of America.

"What is hilarious, or incomprehensible rather, is that the president is out of the country while the country is facing misfortune from all fronts.

"The government has responded to the LTTE leader Prabhaharan's Heroes' Day speech after a long wait though the discussions between the government and the LTTE through the Norwegians took place more than a month ago.

"What is ironic is that even the government ministers are clueless on the exact position of the government on this issue.

"What is certain amongst this sordid rhetoric is that our youth are sacrificing their lives in the war front every day to save face for a corrupt, inefficient and cursed administration.

"There is no assurance whatsoever that Sri Lanka would get continued aid from the donor countries.

"Hence the President's participation in the current aid group meeting is not so important unless she wants to deceive the country. We challenge the President to reveal what she did during her long stay in Europe to the country if she can.

"Former President of Peru Mr. Alberto Fujimori did the same thing immediately before his recent downfall. He undertook long foreign trips for his own benefit and joy using state funds and deceiving his countrymen while Peru was in utter chaos. The only silver lining in the dark cloud for the masses of this country who have realized that enough is enough with no hope for the future under the PA rule is the downfall of this cursed government."