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| Friday, 4 June 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| SLFP, JVP collectively responsible to fulfil promises given to masses by Ariyaratne Ganegoda The recent exchange of letters between the SLFP and JVP was a deliberate attempt to divert people's attention from the urgent problems confronting them, claimed UNP media spokesman Prof. G. L. Peiris, MP at a press briefing held at the Opposition Leader's Office at Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo yesterday. Prof. Peiris said although the SLFP and JVP were blaming each other both parties were equally responsible for the lapses of the Freedom Alliance Government. People were well aware that these two parties subscribed to a single policy framework put forward at the last general election. Accordingly it was their collective responsibility to fulfil all the promises given during the last election. Prof. Peiris said the UNF Government granted a Rs. 1,250 salary increase to all public servants in 2003. But has the Freedom Alliance been able to increase public servants salaries by 70 per cent as promised during the last election campaign, he asked. He said the Freedom Alliance Government was already two months old. He wished to ask the Government whether it would grant the 70 per cent salary increase before it becomes three months old next month? Prof. Peiris said the Government had also failed to increase the number of Samurdhi recipients to 1.4 million as promised. Freedom Alliance leaders who promised 60,000 jobs were today talking about a program of job training only. He said the Government is yet to announce a clear policy on the privatisation program to the country. Prof. Peiris said the Government would definitely increase oil, gas, milk food and infant milk food prices after the Provincial Council elections. If not the Government should categorically state that it would not increase prices of goods after the Provincial Council elections. Colombo District MP Bandula Gunawardena said the people elected the Freedom Alliance Government to power with great hopes for the future. But all those hopes had been dashed and the people were looking forlorn. He said today the Prima Company was trying to increase the price of flour according to the provisions of a fresh agreement the PA Government had signed with it in 2001 when President Kumaratunga was Finance Minister and Dr. P. B. Jayasundara was Secretary, Ministry of Finance. The UNF Government had not signed any such agreement with the Prima Company, he said. He said when the UNF was in power it used to provide a subsidy to the Company to prevent any jacking up of the flour price. It was now up to the Freedom Alliance Government to pay this subsidy to prevent any increase in the price of flour to the consumer. |
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