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| Tuesday, 6 July 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Azwer on cricketers and cars Although our cricketers failed this time to score a century in the Test match played at Marrara, Australia President Chandrika Bandaranike Kumaratunga of course has notched up a hurricane century by way of giving Rs. 103 for a US dollar. This is a record scoring in the history of economy in this country! Furthermore, Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama alleges that luxurious vehicles were imported under the Indian Credit Line and given to the MPs by the UNF government. Of course, such cars were imported. But I must emphasise the fact that as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs those cars were not only given to the UNF MPs but also to the PA, JVP and to every other party Members in Parliament. It was the opposition at that time who were making claims after claims to our then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe - whenever he visited the Parliamentary canteen - asking for a vehicle. So the PM decided in deference to their appeals to make available to all MPs a mere utility vehicle for their electorate work. Even Dr. Sarath Amunugama himself gleefully accepted a vehicle given to him. So much for his bankrupt 'luxury vehicle' talk, said Azwer at a UNP propaganda meeting. 'It is also another record in the history of Parliament - no parallel in other countries either - even after the lapse there months from the last general election, Parliament has not sat the government business has not been transacted. How could you run a country, if government fails to summon Parliament and take up 'government business? The erosion of parliamentary democracy is nigh at hand if parliamentary proceedings are derailed. The entire opposition should must its muscle its strength to save parliamentary democracy at this crucial stage in the history of our country and thereby safeguard the sovereignty of the people, Azwer said. It is condemnable that the SLMC candidates contesting separately in certain districts making statements to the effect that 'votes cast for the UNP should be considered as votes thrown into the dustbins.' What an unethical statement this is? the SLMC demands seats in parliament through UNP and even taking up UNP membership and at the same time permits its members to deride the very same UNP from SLMC platforms. This double tongued politics should be put to an end, he said. |
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