‘Basil fought against all odds’

Sarath MALALASEKERA

COLOMBO: Former Lands Reforms Commission Chairman and Senior Attorney-at-law Upali Senaratne condemned the conduct of the UNP when Basil Rajapaksa took his oaths as a new MP.

He said the jeering of UNP members were unprecedented and against the norms of conduct when a new members was taking oaths.

“ Normally that is the day when all MPs get together and congratulate the newcomer to Parliament”.

“Basil Rajapaksa has a long political history though he was not in Parliament. He has shown his skill and organising ability in the political arena.

When the President fought his election Basil shouldered the responsibility to bring him victory. The UNP, especially JR Jayewardene, respected his political acumen and even considered at one stage to hand over the Hambantota District Organiser post to him”.

When some of the SLFP MPs were not coming forward to help the election campaign out of fear for Chandrika it is Basil Rajapaksa who fought courageously against all odds.

This is a clear display of political bankruptcy of the UNP and their ignorance of the Standing Orders of Parliament.

Former President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Association in Italy, Sunil Augustine, who is at present in Sri Lanka, also condemned the act of UNP members as highly ignominious.