Athauda challenges Ranil

Labour Minister Athauda Seneviratne yesterday challenged Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe for an open debate.

Reacting angrily to the Opposition Leader’s remark that the President did not accept his challenge for an open debate on the ceasefire agreement, the Minister said, “I am asking the Opposition Leader to come for a debate with me, not with the President”.

The Minister said Wickremesinghe is a failed and an unsuccessful leader.

The Minister made these remarks when he took the issue of the CFA during the adjournment on the Nation Building Tax (Amendment) Bill. The Minister said the CFA had legitimised a terrorist out fit and paved the way for the LTTE to become more stronger.

The Opposition Leader earlier said there is no use of talking about the CFA as the President has not accepted his challenge for an open debate.

Wickremesinghe walked out of the chamber as the Minister was continuously launching his verbal attack against him. You talk about debates, but when you are challenged for an open debate you run away from the back door”, the minister said.

He said the Opposition Leader has tried his best to stop the EU granting an extension of the GSP plus facility to Sri Lanka. The opposition Leader and some UNP members have sent e-mails to the IMF asking not to grant loans to Sri Lanka. Wickremesinghe has also requested that HSBC not to give loans to Sri Lanka.