Rajitha slams Ranil for smear campaign abroad

Mohammed Naalir

COLOMBO: Minister Rajitha Senaratne yesterday lashed out at Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe for continuing with his campaign to discredit the Government abroad saying the aspiring leader's aim should be the protection of the country and not treachery.

Addressing the media at Seth Sevana, Senaratne said the treacherous programme conducted by Wickremesinghe led 18 UNP Parliamentarians including himself to exit the party and join the Government.

"He is continuing with his propaganda locally and internationally. A good leader's asset is recognition among the public and his duty is to toil for the country's welfare and not its betrayal.

Wickremesinghe failed to fulfil his responsibility towards the country," he said. This is a great weakness of Wickremesinghe although he has a good knowledge and a vision, Senaratne said.

"The aim of a leader should be the prosperity of the country. Who ever the leader, if he fails to perform his obligations by the Nation, he will be rejected by the people". Senaratne said when a leader fails to understand the pulse of the people, he is not worthy of leadership.

"The Opposition Leader wants foreign countries not to grant us loans. No leader in the past had behaved in this fashion. Former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike did not criticise the then UNP Government for obtaining loans. The Government is obtaining loans for development projects.

"There is no leader in the country's political history who had not obtained foreign loans to develop the country," he said.

Senaratne said normally loans are obtained not to spend on war or to reduce the prices of essential commodities or for subsidies but to expedite development.

Several UNPers are set to join the Government shortly. The number of party men who come to Seth Sevana exceeds those going to Sirikotha, Senaratne said.

"We have provided jobs to between 700 and 800 UNP supporters ignored by Wickremesinghe," he said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the only capable leader who could expedite the development work while at the same time spend a colossal sum on a conflict.

Senaratne said he was still a Working Committee member of the UNP and nobody could expel him from the party.