UNP, JVP candidates join government

Nadira Gunatilleke

Twenty one UNP and JVP candidates who handed over nominations have joined the UPFA so far and more UNP and JVP key candidates will join with the Government today. An Urban Council member is among them. This is the greatest evidence of the downfall of the opposition, Youth Affairs Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said.

Minister Alahapperuma was addressing the weekly UPFA press briefing held at the Mahaweli Centre Auditorium yesterday.

He said for the first time in the Sri Lankan history, a person who handed over nominations from the opposition joined with the UPFA in 2007.

This time, it increased up to 21. The SLFP celebrated the International Women’s Day in Colombo honouring women. The UNP celebrated the same with beating up a seven month pregnant LG Poll candidate.

Minister Alahapperuma said the opposition will not be able to use `electricity’ as one of their election promises after 2012 because the whole country will have electricity.

Eighty seven percent of the country has electricity and it was only 72 percent by 2005.

The Government launched 76,618 projects under the Gama Neguma and 13 million people benefit. All Divisional Secretariats of the country had development projects. Around 32,000 rural roads were concreted. Another 4,000 roads will be concreted shortly, the minister said.