UNP in pathetic state - Minister

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Finance and State Revenue Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya told Parliament yesterday that the UNP at present has been reduced to a very pathetic situation and that the party was devoid any constructive argument against the Government.

The Minister was responding to the adjournment motion moved by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake.

"The MP who moved this adjournment motion or the MP who seconded it are not even present in the Chamber. If the UNP is genuinely interested in discussing the economic situation with the Government, they should be in the Chamber.

The Minister said UNP moved this motion simply making use of their Parliament priveledges.

"At present, does not have any constructive argument to build up against the Government," the Minister said.

Siyambalapitiya said Sri lanka has obtained loans from the IMF on more than 20 occasions and on those occasions no problems arose in obtaining the loans from the IMF. The UNP is attempting to mislead the public by making various false statements regarding this IMF loan to be obtained by the Government,' he said.

The Government has launched various development projects and has been able to provide electricity to nearly of the people the Minister said.

The Central Bank has taken a number of steps to rectify the problems and enhance the economic conditions of this country despite the global economic crisis.

"Though we are engaged in eliminating terrorism in the country, the Government has been able to go beyond the targets in certain fields," he said

Paddy productivity has been increased while export earnings had grown up to 34 percent during last year, the Minister said.

The UNP has been ruling the country from 2002 to 2004. "We have seen how they tried to divide the country by entering into agreements with Prabhakaran. In keeping with the Mahinda Chinthana, we will take all possible steps to enhance the living standards of the innocent people. By making a number of sacrifices, the Government has been able to provide relief to people despite Challenges".