UNP policy statement unrealistic, misleading - Rohitha Bogollagama

by Manjula Fernando

Calling the UNP's employment on merit (Hekiyawata Rekiyawak) program a 'big fraud,' Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday accused the UNP of trying to take the voters on a ride.

He was addressing reporters at the UPFA's weekly press conference at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute yesterday.

The Minister said, as an active member who was involved in drafting the economic program for the UNP's election manifesto in 1999 he would call the targets presented in the 'Janatha Nyaya Pathraya' both unrealistic and misleading.

He said, the economic program of the UNP which aspires to set up five economic jurisdictions to operate simultaneously was a plain reproduction of their earlier programs in 1999, 2000 and 2001 which proved unsuccessful during their reign from 2001 to 2003. They offered this same program through the 1999 election manifesto 'Janathawa Samaga Mage Sammuthiya', and in 2000 in 'Obe Anagathaya then again in 2001 through the 'Yahapath Samajayak Arthika Navodayak.'

"As the then Industries Minister, I presented the Bill to establish these economic zones, in parliament in 2002 under the UNP Government."

"SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem opposed it saying a single economic commission to the North and East region will not be welcomed by the Muslims. Later due to political pressure the Government had to abandon this program."

He said the UNP was planning economic revival through this outdated and once proved unsuccessful program and that their entire economic policy hanged on it.