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| Tuesday, 30 March 2004 |
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| Wimal sets the record straight JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa yesterday totally denied allegations made by the UNP in its election campaign that if the Freedom Alliance came to power, it will close down private hospitals and international schools and place restrictions on ownership of houses. The Freedom Alliance has no intention whatsoever to close private schools or hospitals. These are totally fabricated rumours spread by the UNP which is now staring defeat in the face, Weerawansa told the Daily News yesterday. He said the Freedom Alliance manifesto has clearly stated that the Government would only supervise the functioning of private hospitals but had no intention of taking over private hospitals as interfering with the private practice of Government doctors under the Government's purview. The Freedom Alliance also has no intention of closing international schools as claimed by the UNP, Weerawansa said. "At present various false rumours have been spread by the UNP who had become agitated by the impending Freedom Alliance victory. In addition to this, the UNP has also fabricated tales that the JVP will curtail the personal freedom of the people such as restricting ownership of vehicles to one per family," he said. Weerawansa said the UNP has also claimed that the Freedom Alliance had formulated plans to deny facilities to businessmen to conduct their industries and discourage foreign investments. "The sole intention of the Freedom Alliance is to form a disciplined Government on April 2, free from bribery and corruption. We will provide benefits to the private sector and local industrialists to conduct their enterprises while encouraging foreign investments. However, the Freedom Alliance Government will put a halt to racketeering by certain businessmen," he said. Weerawansa said a group of Japanese foreign investors met Freedom Alliance leaders at President's House yesterday and pledged their fullest support to the Freedom Alliance to contribute their investments in the health, education and power sectors as soon as the Freedom Alliance Government came to power. "Therefore this is a clear indication that the Freedom Alliance has introduced a clear policy to the people as mentioned in its manifesto," he added. Meanwhile, he reiterated the Freedom Alliance pledge in its Election Manifesto to introduce legislations to protect the rights of women and ensure the uplift of their health, nutritional and welfare facilities, stated a JVP press release yesterday. A majority of the women population of 94,65,000 which is a 51 per cent of the total population of Sri Lanka are subject to professional torture, specially those working in Free Trade Zones and Estate sector. In addition there are hundred thousands of women who are self-employed. 53.3 percent of the women population in the year 2002 were employed abroad earning 110 billion rupees a year in foreign exchange. About 90 percent of the 56,000 female employees in Free Trade Zones do not receive a salary commensurate with their labour and they are living without proper security and sanitary facilities. 203 corpses of female foreign employees were flown to the country in sealed coffins within 9 months. What has the UNF Government done to ameliorate these conditions, queried Wimal Weerawansa, the press release said. |
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