Ranil’s speech betrays nation - Azwer

COLOMBO: It is political treachery to deprive people of Sri Lanka receiving any aid assistance from foreign governments and agencies. Viewing from this position, the statement made by Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Leader of Opposition, in Chennai, can be dubbed as the great betrayal of the nation in the century.

Former Minister of Parliament Affairs and Muslim Affairs and the Presidential Advisor A.H.M. Azwer, made these comments at a meeting held at Muslim Vidyalaya at Palliyagodella in the Polonnaruwa district to hand over compensation to families whose breadwinners were brutally murdered by the terrorists in 1992.

Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services, presented cheques to the recipients. Hussain Ahamad Bhaila, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs presided.

Azwer said the statement recently made by the Malaysian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Nazirah Hussain, at a farewell reception that no Malaysian would be allowed to go out of the country and tarnish the image of Malaysia, and they would not tolerate such unpatriotism.

This statement of the leader of the Opposition is highly deplorable and calls for vehement condemnation by all sections of the Sri Lankan population. It was an act of infancy to say that any loan granted to Sri Lanka would not be paid by the UNP if it comes to power.

As a former Prime Minister and a Parliamentarian of 30 years experience he should know that agreement reached between governments has to be honoured by successive Governments.

The present PA Government is repaying loans obtained by UNP Governments since 1977. Coming to power through the franchise of the people is one thing, but making childish utterances deserves people’s abhorrence, he said.