No polls, assures Minister

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: The Government is stable and strong now and it has no intention of holding a Parliamentary Election in May or afterwards, assured Leader of the House and Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva yesterday.

"There will be no change in the Government as stated by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe," Minister de Silva stressed. He said the Opposition Leader has ordered his party MPs not to go abroad or be absent from Parliament because a significant change is due to take place in the Government in May.

"Wickremesinghe is trying to create tension in the Government but it will boomerang on him."

Minister De Silva recalled how Wickremesinghe boasted in April 2006 about setting up a new Government and how four UNP MPs joined the Government afterwards. He made a similar boast in 2007 and how 18 UNP MPs joined the Government just afterwards. "If he is going to topple the Government another group of UNP MPs will join the Government," the Minister quipped.

"Wickremasinghe is releasing funny statements from time to time and dreaming with the April rain and chill.

Those will remain dreams forever because the Government is strong and stable and there is no sign of a Parliamentary election in near future. The Government will present its political proposals on May 1 and there is no option for the Opposition Leader.

He is trying to use the Mangala-Shripathi issue but it will also be solved in May leaving the Opposition Leader with empty hands," the Minister added.