Jaffna hotel rooms mostly occupied by Tamil expats - minister
Disna MUDALIGE
SLFP Treasurer and Youth Affairs Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said
that hotel rooms in Jaffna are mostly being occupied by Sri Lankan
Tamils who possess citizenships in foreign countries and not by
government officials, MPs or ministers ahead of the local Government
Elections in the North, as claimed by certain groups aligned with the
Opposition.
The minister was responding to a question by a journalist at a press
conference held at the Mahaweli Centre yesterday. He stressed that no
state influence had been directed at the election campaigns in the
North. He observed that since the permission of the Defence Ministry is
no more needed to enter Jaffna, anybody can visit these places and
realize the truth for themselves. He noted that ministers and government
MPs are accommodated in rented houses which are available in those
areas.
Refuting the claim that the government is attempting to bribe voters
in the North, the minister said that the government has no necessity to
bribe the Northern community when those areas are enjoying freedom,
electricity, transport, cultivation and improved security conditions
with the gradual removal of High Security Zones.
He also said that the Northern community is honest and truthful and
their vote cannot be obtained through bribes. "The recovery rate of
loans section in the People's Bank Jaffna branch, even at the height of
the war was 95 percent. This is good proof of their honesty", he
observed.
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