A major political victory for Government
* UNP-JVP-TNA attempt to topple Govt a failure
* Govt on way to consolidating stability after
majority vote
Manjula Fernando
COLOMBO: The Government yesterday termed the approval of six
supplementary estimates with a majority in Parliament on Tuesday as a
“major political victory” and a successful defeat of a UNP devised plan
to topple the Government with the help of JVP and the TNA.
Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle briefing the media on the current
political situation at the Information Department said the plan was
masterminded by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe “who fled to
India at the crucial moment, hoping to rejoice.”
“This was the first time JVP joined hands with the TNA whose cause is
to reinforce the LTTE. It has never happened before,” Fernandopulle said
adding that the whole episode was a political contract by the UNP
leader.
“This was the first major victory for the Mahinda Rajapaksa
Government since its election. We passed the six supplementary estimates
with a clear majority of 20 votes, 107 for and 87 opposing,” he said,
affirming the supplementary budget did not exceed the 2007 fiscal
allocations.
“We are on way to a stable Government. Wickremesinghe can never count
on a victory in an election. He can never ask the people to elect him,”
Agriculture Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara said adding that his actions
would demoralise the Forces and the police.
“He has betrayed the people and the country by painting a twisted
picture to the international community and by doing so promoting the
LTTE’s cause.”
Minister Nanayakkara said the Opposition Leader’s call for replacing
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa with Major General Janaka Perera
was intended to create a rift within the military.
“There are people in the Army who are also loyal to Janaka Perera. By
making such callous statements he is trying to divide the military at a
time it has achieved great victories in the East.” He questioned why the
Opposition Leader did not make Perera the Defence Secretary in place of
Austin Fernando during his tenure in 2001.
“He’s steering the UNP towards destruction.” Minister Fernandopulle
referring to UNP MP Lakshman Seneviratne’s claims of the Government
paying off the LTTE in a secret pact before the election, retorted the
MP should have helped the CID to investigate his claims.
“If the allegations are true why is he now hiding behind
Parliamentary privileges and trying to dodge the CID,” the Minister
questioned. According to the Minister the MP has pleaded with the
Speaker to help him seek cover behind Parliamentary privileges to
prevent the CID from recording a statement.
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