‘Opposing everything is not Opposition’s only role’

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday, while noting that an Opposition’s role was not to oppose everything, said that, however, today’s Opposition knew no other role than opposing everything.

He added that the Opposition had not stopped at that but had gone even further by betraying the country and nation and putting the government into difficulty before the international community and thereby also putting the people into difficulty.

President Rajapaksa addressing the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and other allied party members at the Colombo Municipal Council told them to set an example as to how a responsible Opposition should work. During the swearing-in ceremony held at Presidential Secretariat, 16 UPFA Councilors, including Opposition leader of the CMC Milinda Moragoda, two members from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and one member from the Independent Group (2) were sworn in. The President speaking further noted that when he toured Colombo recently, the mothers whom he had met asked him to save their children from the underworld and drug menace. “Not only this but we also should provide them with better living standards,” he added.

While questioning what the UNP had done to solve these people’s grievances during their 53 year rule, the President said that work would continue unabated and with commitment to solve the difficulties faced by shanty dwellers in the city.

In this regard the work carried out by the Urban Development Authority to develop the city would continue, he added. Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana, Ministers Dullas Allahapperuma, Rauff Hakeem, Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha, Thilanga Sumathipala MP, Western Provincial Council Minister Udaya Gammanpila and others participated. The list of newly elected UPFA and other allied party councilors who were worn-in are as follows:

From UPFA : Milinda Moragoda (Opposition Leader), Azath Sally, Ajantha Liyanage, Mohommed Maharoof, Mahinda Kahandagama, Mohhammed Sharook Mohammed, Anthony Fernando, Saman Abeyguneratne, Madu Madawa Aravinda, Mohammed Hussain Siddique, M.M.M. Musammil, Mohammed Hussain Mansil, Devika Mataraarachchi, Anura Sujeewa, Sandeepa Gunadasa, Chandrasekerage Bandusena.

SLMC: Shaul Hameed Mohammed and Ismail Mohammed Anaz. Independent Group (02): Shelton Douglas Seneviratne.